Lithuania took over OSCE Chairmanship

 

Vienna, 3 January 2011 – At the beginning of New Year Lithuania took over the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Its Foreign Minister and the new Chairperson-in-Office Audronius Ažubalis stressed among the priorities a focus on internal and external threats in the OSCE area, resolving protracted conflicts, fostering democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, notably freedom of the media, promoting energy security in Europe and building upon synergies between regional organizations.

Ambassador Giedrius ÄŒekuolis had been appointed as the new Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in- Office for Protracted Conflicts.
Lithuanian MFA Ažubalis took over the Chairmanship from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, whose country chaired the OSCE in 2010. Together with Ireland (CiO 2012) these three countries will collaborate in the OSCE Chairmanship Troika.
On 13 January in Vienna the new Chairperson-in-Office will outline the Lithuanian Chairmanship’s priorities to the Permanent Council, a key OSCE decision-making body.

 

---