Helsinki - The role of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conflict resolution - especially in light of the recent war between Russia and Georgia - is Friday's focus as the organization's two-day meeting draws to a close.

The 56-nation group - along with the European Union - helped broker a ceasefire and deploy military observers in Georgia after the August conflict.

Multiple countries urged the OSCE to extend the monitoring mission to Georgia and its breakaway regions. The mission is set to expire at the end of December.

As current holder of the rotating OSCE chairmanship, Finland is hosting the 16th OSCE ministerial conference. Greece will take over in 2009.

Proposals for new European security arrangements were discussed at a three-hour luncheon on Thursday, but few details emerged.

Several countries said the existing structures involving the EU, NATO and OSCE were sufficient. But they added there was need to refresh or strengthen those structures.

The OSCE evolved from the Helsinki process that, in 1975, during the Cold War, saw the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. (dpa)