EU foreign ministers mull OSCE crisis

Date: 07/04/05

The crisis over the future of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will be discussed by EU foreign ministers during an informal meeting next week.

Prompted by Russia's decision to block the organisation's budget, the ministers will discuss the matter with representatives from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia in Luxembourg on 15-16 April.

Moscow is withholding its $7 million annual contribution. Many believe the move has been prompted by OSCE election reports in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, which Moscow sees as unfavourable to its interests in the former Soviet Union.

European diplomats have signalled their willingness to accommodate Russia and to increase the OSCE's role in economic affairs. But many are against undermining the organisation's role as an election watchdog.

Foreign ministers are also to discuss a dispute over an OSCE mission on the Georgian-Russian border, and the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, areas where Russia and Georgia have clashed.

Also on the agenda will be Belarus, with some member states hoping to convince the rest to allow a European Commission delegation to open in Minsk.

Ministers will also discuss relations with China, a debate to be dominated by US concerns over the EU's intentions to end its arms embargo against Beijing.

Preview of an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers with representatives from the candidate countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia in Luxembourg on 15-16 April 2005. The Ministers were to discuss the crisis over the future of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which was prompted by Russia's decision to block the organisation's budget. Other items on the agenda were a planned OSCE mission on the Georgian-Russian border, the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Belarus and relations with China.