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During the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 13 December in Brussels, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis presented the planned priority directions of Lithuania’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the impact on the EU’s agenda of the decisions that were made during the OSCE Summit in Astana.

“Solidarity of the EU member states within the OSCE is necessary. The OSCE can become an appropriate forum for practical verification of the effectiveness and functioning of the Treaty of Lisbon,” the Minister stressed.

According to the Minister, Lithuania’s OSCE chairmanship in 2011 will consolidate efforts to resolve protracted conflicts, to protect human rights and press freedom, to enhance the safety of journalists, to increase energy and cyber security.

Minister A.Ažubalis noted that it was necessary for the OSCE topics to become a permanent part of the EU-Russia and the EU-U.S. dialogue.

The Minister spoke about Lithuania’s OSCE chairmanship also at the foreign ministers’ meeting of the European People’s Party that was held on the eve of the FAC and at the regular meeting of the Baltic and Nordic foreign ministers.

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton prepared discussion papers on the EU’s relations with the United States, Russia and China. When commenting on the documents, Minister A.Ažubalis stressed the necessity to agree on the EU’s priorities and possible results in relations with strategic partners and invited to follow the principles of values and reciprocity in the dialogue with these countries.

The Minister spoke up for a more active involvement of the Council and its preparatory bodies - working groups, committees - in preparations for the meetings of the EU’s summits with strategic partners.

Foreign Ministers of the EU member states discussed the results of the early parliamentary elections that took place in Moldova on 28 November.

“It is important that Moldova maintains a pro-European course of reforms after the parliamentary elections, and the Alliance’s Government showed that it could consistently implement internal political and economic reforms in compliance with the EU standards,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

When discussing the issue of Afghanistan, the Minister spoke in favour of the EU’s more active role in the process of transferring the responsibility for the country to Afghans and stressed the importance of strengthening the civil service and police in Afghanistan.

“A couple of initiatives are especially important. It is a goal to establish regional training centers for civil servants in the major cities of Afghanistan and to adapt the experience of Central and Eastern Europe when reforming the public service sector,” the Minister said.

He also stressed the significance of the activities of the European Union Police mission (EUPOL) for training Afghanistan’s local police in Kabul and in the provinces.

Foreign Ministers of the EU member states and the High Representative C.Ashton discussed key issues of foreign policy for next year.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that it was essential to maintain the EU’s support for human rights and democracy, and to raise these issues within the dialogue with third countries. Besides, it is important to maintain the focus on Georgia and other countries that participate in the Eastern Partnership initiative. In Lithuania’s opinion, the OSCE topic should remain among the main priorities of the EU’s foreign policy.

Issues of the Middle East peace process, Iran, Sudan, Somalia and the Western Balkans were also discussed at the FAC meeting.