OSCE Senior Council to meet this week in Prague

VIENNA, 18 March 1996 - On Thursday and Friday, 21-22 March, the OSCE Senior Council will be meeting in Prague. The meeting will open on Thursday at 15.00 with a statement by the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Swiss Foreign Minister, Federal Councillor Flavio Cotti. The meeting will continue with a discussion on the prospects for the OSCE Summit Meeting to be held at the end of 1996 in Lisbon and on the "A Common and Comprehensive Security Model for the Twenty-First Century." The Secretary General of the OSCE, Dr. Wilhelm Höynck, will also address the Council.

The meeting will continue at 9:00 on Friday, 22 March, with a focus on OSCE role in the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ambassador Robert Frowick, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will speak about the electoral process. Ambassador Gret Haller, the International Human Rights Ombudsperson for Bosnia and Herzegovina will speak on human rights issues. The Council will also hear statements on the implementation of Article II (Confidence- and Security- Building Measures) and IV (Arms Control) of Annex 1-B of the Peace Agreement from Ambassador Istvan Gyarmati and Ambassador Vigleik Eide.

The Senior Council is responsible discussing and setting OSCE policy and broad budgetary guidelines. The OSCE participating States are encouraged to be represented at the level of political directors or at a corresponding level. The Senior Council meets at least twice a year in Prague and once a year as the Economic Forum.

Press Arrangements:

An informal meeting with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister, Federal Councillor Flavio Cotti, on Thursday, 21 March, at 16:30.

A press briefing with the Chairman of the Senior Council, Swiss State Secretary Jakob Kellenberger on Friday, 22 March at 13.00.

For accreditation, please present your press credentials at the press liason desk.

Address: Palace Czernin, Loretanske namesti 5, Prague 1

Tel. (+42 - 2) 2431 0971 or 2431 0969, Fax:(+42-2) 2431 0970