The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe welcomes the start of discussions on a new pan-European security architecture proposed by Russia, the head the organization said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed drawing up a new pan-European security pact in June 2008, and Russia published a draft of the treaty on November 29, sending copies to heads of state and international organizations, including NATO.

Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut said that at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting earlier this month, all countries welcomed the Russian proposal.

"It is important for the Russian proposals to be on the table as a basis for discussions," he told RIA Novosti in an interview on the sidelines of the Towards New European Security Architecture international conference in London.

Although Western nations say they are open to discuss the plan, diplomats have voiced concerns that it is an attempt to replace or weaken NATO, or limit the ability of nations to join the Western alliance without Russia's approval.

Last week NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Russia's security pact draft would be discussed more by the OSCE than by NATO.

The Towards New European Security Architecture international conference is being held in London and was organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Valdai Discussion Club and Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti.

LONDON, December 9 (RIA Novosti)