News

On 7 February in Kyiv, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis held meetings with representatives from opposition parties and civil society, Ukraine’s former Foreign Ministers Volodymyr Ohryzko, Petro Poroshenko and Borys Tarasyuk.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy also met with Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of Ukraine’s largest opposition party “Batkivshchina”.

At the meetings, Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policy issues were discussed with particular focus on human rights and democracy issues.

Minister A.Ažubalis stressed the necessity to preserve significant achievements of democracy that were accomplished in Ukraine during the recent years and continue to build a functioning rule-of-law State.

Y.Tymoshenko thanked A.Ažubalis for his active position as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s on democracy and human rights, and stressed the significance of Lithuania and other democracies in protecting Ukraine’s interests.

On 6-10 February, Minister A.Ažubalis, as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, is paying a visit to Ukraine and Moldova. The day before, Foreign Minister held meetings with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn.

The agenda of Minister A.Ažubalis’s visit to Moldova includes meetings with the Acting President, Parliamentary Speaker Marian Lupu, Prime Minster Vlad Filat, Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca and the Moldovan chief negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, as well as with the leadership of Transdniestria and representatives of political parties.

In Moldova, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will discuss efforts to achieve progress in the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and other issues.