News

On 27 October Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis paid a visit to  the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna and delivered a speech in the OSCE Permanent Council meeting.

The Minister expressed Lithuania’s position on strengthening the organization in three dimensions – political and security, human and economic and underlined the importance of preserving OSCE values.

“We need an active, effective organization capable of flexible and prompt reaction to the challenges of the 21st century,” Foreign Minister said.

Minister Valionis noticed the role of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHR) and assured that this autonomic OSCE institution responsible for election observation missions should be further strengthened. Implementation of “free and fair” election principle is a matter of concern to all OSCE members. Lithuania shares its election observation experience with other countries and sends its representatives to many election observation missions.

The Head of Lithuanian diplomacy stressed the significance of conflict prevention. Moldova, Georgia, Kosovo, Middle Asia – the trouble spots of the OSCE region where the political dialogue should be enhanced, OSCE missions should actively involve, other international organizations should be constantly informed thus stimulating the conflict settlement process.

The Minister also confirmed Lithuania’s wish to chair the OSCE in 2010 that was expressed last year.

During the visit Minister Valionis met with the Ambassador of Slovenia (the country currently chairing the OSCE) Janez Lenarcič and OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

In the meeting with OSCE Secretary General the participants considered the preparations for December’s OSCE Ministerial Council in Ljubljana, strengthening of the Secretariat’s role and further activities in the OSCE area. OSCE Secretary General welcomed Lithuania’s objective to chair the OSCE in 2010 and gave positive evaluation of Lithuania’s efforts to enhance organization’s flexibility and reaction to challenges.

In Vienna Minister Valionis also met with Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik and the President of Austria Heinz Fischer. In the meetings bilateral relations, priorities of the forthcoming Austria’s Presidency, EU Financial Perspective, EU Constitution, and Lithuania’s Eastern policy priorities were talked over.