Poland takes over the chair at OSCE

One of Europe's largest institutions, the fifty-four nation Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, begins 1998 under new management, with Poland replacing Denmark in chairing meetings.

The BBC's Central Europe analyst says Poland is expected to push for a reform of the OSCE finances in favour of smaller members during its term, as well as encouraging the sensitive handing of relations with Russia.

Moscow wants the OSCE to take the lead in European security over NATO and opposes its expasion to eastwards.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service