OSCE States hold high-level consultations on reform of the Organization

VIENNA, 13 September 2005 - A two-day, high-level meeting of the OSCE participating States has been considering wide-ranging proposals for the reform of the 55-nation body.

These consultations continued a process that began in Spring this year, with a series of detailed hearings into the present role of the OSCE conducted by a Panel of Eminent Persons, appointed by the Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dimitrij Rupel.

The seven-person Panel presented its report, containing over 70 separate proposals, to the Chairman in June.

After two months' consideration, the participating States were able to voice their opinions on the set of proposals, at the current meeting.

Ambassador Boris Frlec, representing the Slovenian Chair, said at the meeting: "Our task during the these specially convened consultations is to examine the report of the Panel as well as other contributions, and to put forward conclusions and recommendations aimed at creating a stronger sense of common purpose among the participating States."

Among the themes covered over the past two days were the set of priorities, creation of a legal capacity for the Organization (which currently enjoys political but not legal status), rules of procedure, strengthening the effectiveness of the Secretariat, developing a committee structure, strengthening field activities, elections monitoring, and budgetary issues.

No decisions were taken at these consultations, but a summary paper will be circulated by the Chairmanship to form the basis for further expert-level meetings. These should lead to agreement by consensus on specific issues, which can then be presented to the Foreign Ministers at their annual Council in Ljubljana in December.