Representing the Greek OSCE Chairmanship, Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, told journalists today that the meeting comes at a critical moment and underlined the importance of a co-operative approach to address European security’s challenges: "The Greek OSCE Chairmanship launched the Corfu Process this year to foster an open and honest dialogue on the challenges and new threats for our security in the 21st century."

"As the only regional security organization to bring together the United States, Canada and Europe, including the Russian Federation and the rest of the former Soviet Union, the OSCE is a natural forum for this dialogue," said Droutsas.

The OSCE Foreign Ministers will adopt decisions and give political guidelines on a wide range of topics encompassing all three OSCE dimensions; the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will be attended by more than 45 ministers and 57 delegations, is held annually and is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE.