Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 19 / Trend , E.ostapenko /
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, said modesty, consolidation and time were needed for the discussions on how to develop the European security architecture in a speech delivered at an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Vienna today.
"Greece stands read to organize meetings at any level with the aim of facilitating further dialogue," Bakoyannis said a speech delivered at an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Vienna
today.
The 8th session of OSCE PA with attendance of 270 parliamentarians started in Vienna on Feb. 19.
"The first is modesty. We have come a long way since the Cold War. Walls have been torn down and families reunited. But the job is not done. Some participating States feel that we have not yet overcome all dividing lines in Europe. So let us take every invitation to dialogue seriously," she said.
The second principle was consolidation, she said, emphasizing that "our point of departure must be what we have already achieved".
The final principle was to make haste slowly, she said, keeping in mind that the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, which led to the creation of the OSCE, was preceded by lengthy discussions including 2,400 meetings and deliberations on 4,660 proposals.
"We should take the time required to prepare a positive agenda, to consider all options and consult widely," she said.
Bakoyannis said also lauded the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which comprises 320 parliamentarians from the 56 OSCE participating States, saying it helped "to drive forward the political dialogue among participating States".
Winter session is the second largest event in OSCE PA. The annual session to be held in Lithuania on June 29 to July 3.
Yearly chairmanship of the OSCE was transferred from Finland to Greece since Jan. 1.
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