Five OSCE Chairmanship countries to meet in Helsinki to discuss strengthening the OSCE

Press release 184/2008
29 May, 2008

Representatives of five OSCE Chairmanship countries for the years 2007–2011 will gather in Helsinki on 1–2 June, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, the OSCE Chairman-in Office, to discuss enhancing cooperation among the Chairmanships and future priorities of the organisation.

Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin of Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas of Lithuania, Secretary of State Angel Lossada of Spain representing the previous Chairmanship, and Special Envoy Christos Zacharakis of Greece, representing the incoming Chairmanship, will attend the informal meeting of the ‘Quintet’.

Spain held the OSCE Chairmanship in 2007, Greece will hold the Chairmanship in 2009, Kazakhstan in 2010 and Lithuania in 2011.

This is the first time that the OSCE Chairmanships are known for three years in advance. The purpose of the cooperation among the Quintet, launched at the initiative of Finland, is to promote the OSCE’s long-term planning and to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.

Additional information: Aleksi Härkönen, Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 9 1605 5496; Janne Taalas, Counsellor, Deputy Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 9 1605 6657; and Laura Furuholm, Desk Officer, tel. +358 9 1605 6659