OSCE Permanent Council honours victims of Indian Ocean disaster with minute's silence

VIENNA, 30 December 2004 - The OSCE Permanent Council held a minute's silence on Thursday in honour of the victims of the devastating tidal wave which killed tens of thousands of people in countries around the Indian Ocean.

The Chairman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Ivo Petrov, expressed condolences to the bereaved on behalf of the OSCE's Bulgarian Chairmanship and of all 55 OSCE participating States.

"We offer our heart-felt sympathy to the people and governments and to all the victims and survivors of this horrifying disaster, especially to Thailand which is an OSCE Partner for Co-operation," he said.

"Many OSCE participating States are also mourning the loss of their own citizens. Our hearts go out to them."