TALKING POINTS

GREECE AND OSCE

Since the early days of the Helsinki Conference, Greece has been actively involved in the works of the CSCE. The historic developments occurred in 1989 and the adoption of the Paris Charter in 1990 marked the beginning of a dynamic expansion in which Greece actively participated. In the end of 1994, the newly-born OSCE was welcomed all over Europe and N. America.

Today, Greece is continuing, within the European Union, to work closely for the elaboration of common policies favoring the strengthening of all dimensions of comprehensive security, a notion dear to OSCE. Comprehensive security covers not only military security but economic and human rights aspects as well. Greece supports the crucial and efficient role of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the constructive work of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Greece believes that the long duration missions of the OSCE are of great importance. She supports the efforts of the Minsk Group for the settlement of the crisis in Nagorno Karabakh and has expressed her readiness to participate in an eventual OSCE peace-keeping operation in the region.

Greece closely follows the debate for the adoption of a Security Model for the next century, a reflection calling for mutually reinforcing institutions, respect of International Law, implementation of the principles of OSCE by all its Member States as well as a proper use of its existing mechanisms for conflict prevention and crisis management. During the recent (2-3/12/96) Lisbon Summit , the "Lisbon Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe for the twenty-first century" was adopted, providing, inter alia, for the development of a Charter on European Security.

Part of the Balkans geographically, Greece spares no effort to encourage good neighborly relations in the spirit of OSCE and promote confidence-building, both at regional and sub-regional levels.

Greece is particularly interested in the restoration of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina and actively participates in the OSCE mission in the region through the European Community Monitoring Mission ("ECMM") as well as on a national basis. The recent European Union initiative (as expressed in the Declaration of Royaumont of December 13, 1995) to start considering (in the framework of the OSCE) the creation, in due time, of a regional round table for the strengthening of stability, good neighborliness and cooperation in South-East Europe", inspired from the Pact on Stability in Europe, constitutes an ambitious development, supplementing the Dayton Agreements, and intending to bring closer all civic elements of the war-torn societies in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On October 21, 1996, Greece hosted the 3^rd meeting of the "Royaumont Initiative". On February 12, 1997, she proposed the convening of an extraordinary meeting, at ministerial level, to deal with phenomena of instability occurred in some countries of the Balkan Peninsula.

Greece is involved in talks regarding developments in its geographical region and strives for their success. She believes that respect for established borders, national minorities and International Law is the only way to ensure continuing peace and stability in the region.

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