Representatives from 56 nations are meeting in Helsinki, Finland Thursday at a summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The group is dealing with questions of just how much it can really do.

We’re tracking perspectives from Russia Today, the Eurasia Daily Monitor, Xinhua News Agency, and Sofia Echo.

We begin with Russia Today, which offers a view on what it expects to be the major issue at the conference.

The international security organization’s talks are due to focus on conflict prevention initiatives in the light of August attacks by Georgia against South Ossetia. Proposals to boost regional security have been moved by Russian president Dmitri Metiedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. (Russia Today)

The Eurasia Daily Monitor takes a markedly cynical perspective on the meeting, asserting:

“Like many other organizations struggling for relevance or plain survival, the OSCE looks to summitry as a panacea…The agonizing organization has not been able to hold a summit since 1999 due to its diminishing relevance and has not managed to adopt a joint political declaration since 2002 due to Russian vetoes. The Helsinki conference at this year’s end is unlikely to do any better.” (Eurasia Daily Monitor)

In a contrasting report, Xinhua quotes OSCE Chairman Alexander Stubb, who defended the organization’s relevance.

“Stubb stressed the importance of the OSCE in the future European security structure, saying the OSCE was "still very valid," but there was need to look at how it could be refreshed.

According to Stubb, his team has drafted a "two-page political declaration," "the first in six years," which awaits the adoption of the ministers.” (Xinhua)

Bulgarian newspaper Sofia Echo agrees that the South Ossetia conflict will be an important topic at the gathering, particularly the role of OSCE monitors. The group had observers stationed in the area until conflict broke out in August.

Greece, whose foreign minister takes over the OSCE chairmanship at the end of the year, has been outspoken about reaching an agreement for monitors to return to South Ossetia.

Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said …"Greece is prepared to organise this summit if it is given a clear mandate by the (OSCE) participating states…in order to ensure broad consensus among participating states, so that we will be able to build strong foundations for future stability and security." (The Sofia Echo)

With the emergence of the EU, is there a need for a separate European security commission? What role should inter-governmental organizations play in preventing and reacting to conflicts like the one in South Ossetia?

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