News

An official opening ceremony of the Lithuanian Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was held on 17 April in Vienna. At the official opening ceremony, Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, the Political Director of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on the OSCE participating States to make full use of the political potential of the Helsinki+40 process, and to achieve consistent progress in all aspects of forum activities.

During the period of the Presidency, Lithuania will seek to revive negotiations on the Vienna Document 2011 on confidence and security-building measures, aiming to adapt this key document to meet new and emerging challenges in an evolving security environment. Lithuania’s Presidency will intensify the OSCE work on small arms and conventional ammunition issues, and will endeavour to achieve progress in implementing the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.

Lithuania will encourage the OSCE to contribute and assist countries in a consistent manner in implementing the United Nations Security Council resolution on women, peace and security (1325) and the resolution on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (1540). In May the UN Security Council 1540 Committee’s Chairman is coming at the invitation of Lithuania.

Lithuania will chair the Forum for Security Co-operation until September 2013.