IN VILNIUS, PRESENT AND FUTURE CHAIRMEN DISCUSSED SHARING EXPERIENCE OF THE OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP
On 1 July at the meting with Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis discussed important issues of Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and ways to share the experience of the OSCE Chairmanship with Ireland.
A.Ažubalis also presented the preparations for the OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting this December in Vilnius.As of January 2012, Ireland will take over a one-year Chairmanship of the OSCE from Lithuania. Therefore, the experience of the current head of the OSCE is particularly important to the incoming OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“We are ready to help Ireland in the process of preparations and also during the term of its Chairmanship of the OSCE,” A.Ažubalis said.
A.Ažubalis and the Irish Minister also discussed issues related to the forthcoming Presidencies of the European Union of both countries.
Lithuania, Ireland and Greece make up the EU Troika. Lithuania will take over a half-year Presidency of the European Union from Ireland on 1 July 2013. The Presidency Troika drafts the 18-month programme of the Presidency and co-organizes joint events. Therefore, it is essential for the countries to prepare in advance together.
When preparing for the Presidency and at the beginning of the Presidency, relations of the countries that make up the EU Troika will be particularly intensive and later they will be useful for further successful advancement of bilateral relations.
At the meeting, the Ministers also discussed current issues of the Lithuanian community in Ireland.
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