OSCE in Russia for security talks

MOSCOW, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Despite concerns over Russia's conflict with Georgia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's head was in Russia Wednesday for security talks.

The OSCE chairman-in-office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow Wednesday. Officials say the two discussed security in Europe ahead of the Helsinki Ministerial Council meeting in December, the OSCE reported.

Critics argued the meeting Wednesday was overshadowed by unresolved tensions stemming from the August conflict between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia and Abkhazia separatist regions. Stubb said a fresh debate was needed between European leaders and Russia over the future of the OSCE framework.

"In December, at the Helsinki Ministerial Council, I expect the foreign ministers of the OSCE 56 participating states to discuss the initiatives of (Russian) President (Dmitry) Medvedev and (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy," Stubb said in a statement.

"The crisis in Georgia has highlighted the need to have a debate on security in Europe."