Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 1 October 2009 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

OSCE Parliamentarians to meet in Athens on energy security and environment

COPENHAGEN, 1 October 2009 - Over 200 OSCE Parliamentarians from 49 countries will gather from 9 to 12 October in Athens to discuss "Energy Security and Environment" at the 2009 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Fall Meetings.

The Meetings, hosted by the Hellenic Parliament, will be addressed by OSCE PA President Joao Soares and other senior officials, including the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis; President of the Greek Parliament, Dimitrios G. Sioufas; and OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

In three focused sessions, the parliamentary conference will address Regional Co-operation in Energy Security; Climate and Environmental Policy - the Road to Copenhagen; and Optimal Utilization of Natural Resources for Human Security. The Fall Meetings also include a Mediterranean Forum, which will consider prospects and challenges for the OSCE Mediterranean dimension, as well as a meeting of the Assembly's Standing Committee.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly organizes Fall Meetings annually in the Mediterranean area to enhance inter-parliamentary dialogue, not the least with parliamentarians from the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, non-OSCE countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Algeria, Jordan, Egypt and Israel, are scheduled to participate in Athens.

The Athens meetings come one year after the Fall Meetings in Toronto, Canada, which had the theme "The OSCE in an Open World: Trade, Security and Migration."

The 2009 Fall Meetings take place at the Divani Apollon Palace Hotel and are open to the media. Members of the media will need to present proper identification to be accredited. Accreditation starts at 17:00 on 8 October at the Divani Apollon Palace Hotel, 10 Ag. Nikolaou & Iliou Str., 166 71 Athens-Vouliagmeni.
Tel. +30 210 8911100; Fax: +30 210 9658010; www.divanis.gr