Greek Chairmanship welcomes 2009 OSCE budget approval

VIENNA, 2 April 2009 - The Greek OSCE Chairmanship welcomed today's decision by the 56 OSCE participating States to approve the Unified Budget for 2009, amounting to 158,676,700 euro.

"The adoption of this budget allows us to focus fully on the Organization's core work of promoting dialogue and co-operation to create and support stability, prosperity and democracy," said Ambassador Mara Marinaki of Greece, Chairperson of the Permanent Council.

The decision was reached at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

The Organization's 2008 agreed budget, adopted in March 2008, was 164,168,200 euro.

The Permanent Council is an OSCE decision-making body, chaired by the country holding the OSCE's annually rotating Chairmanship.

Greece took over the Chairmanship from Finland on 1 January 2009.