Russia's Foreign Ministry deems it necessary to rearrange OSCE fee rates proceeding from member countries' actual solvency, as on United Nations standards. The statement describes a new pattern of OSCE financing through national fees as essential part of overall OSCE reforms "to make it a full-fledged organization based on explicit rules, which would be understandable to everyone".
The Organization started this year with no officially confirmed budget after its members failed to come to an accord on several important provisions. In particular, the OSCE was not ready with updated membership fee rate drafts by last year's end, as its resolutions had envisaged. Russia's Foreign Ministry sees it as basic reason why the budget was not ready on schedule.
No agreement on the fee rates has come up to this day. Not to bring the OSCE to technical closure, on May 12 its Permanent Council adopted an interim financial resolution for 2005 to confirm its consolidated budget. The resolution is not to be renewed, and will be valid only to this year's end.
Russia's Foreign Ministry deems it necessary, in the current situation, to convene practical consultations and so come at an ultimate solution of the financial and budgetary predicament.
