News

According to Lithuanian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ambassador Renatas Norkus, during its chairmanship of this organization in 2011 Lithuania will aim to continue activities in the areas of energy security and transportation with particular emphasis on the strengthening of regional cooperation.

Ambassador R.Norkus spoke on 20 October in Vienna during the second part of the OSCE Review Conference, which focused on economic issues and which was presided by Lithuania on 19-20 October. Participants of the conference discussed issues regarding the development of regional cooperation, transportation, migration, combating corruption, energy security, ensuring sustainable development and economic growth.

The OSCE Review Conference takes place on 18-26 October in Vienna. The Review Conference takes a look at the progress that the 56 OSCE participating states have made in implementing principles and their commitments in politico-military, economic and environmental areas. The Review Conference is presided by the current and the incoming chairmanships of the OSCE: Kazakhstan and Lithuania.

The Conference reviews the progress made by the organization in implementing the commitments following the 1999 Summit of the OSCE in Istanbul. The OSCE Review Conference also discusses prospects for the future. The results of the conference will be important when shaping the priorities of the Lithuanian OSCE chairmanship.

OSCE Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities Goran Svilanovic presented a report on the strengthening of the OSCE role in energy security. This report is based on the conclusions and proposals that were made at the OSCE experts’ meeting in Vilnius on 13-14 September.

On 25-26 October, Lithuania will preside over the part of the Review Conference that focuses on environmental issues. Participants will discuss the issues of environmental management capacity building, efficient use of natural resources and management, prevention of pollution, environmental, natural and man-made hazard.

The OSCE Review Conference is attended by representatives from the OSCE participating states, international organizations, academic communities and non-governmental organizations.

At the event, Lithuania is represented by Director of the Economic Security Policy Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Audrius Brūzga and Ambassador-at-Large of the same department, OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Transport Vytautas Naudužas.

Lithuania will take over the chairmanship of the OSCE in January 2011. Kazakhstan is currently holding the OSCE chairmanship.