News

On 27 August, Lithuanian Ambassador to international organisations in Vienna Renatas Norkus presented credentials to Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. During the meeting, Ambassador R.Norkus expressed serious concern about the dangerously aggravating situation in Georgia and informed that Lithuania strongly condemned Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This decision of Russia is not only a gross violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its universally respected borders, but it is also an evident violation of the rules of international law and fundamental OSCE principles.

R.Norkus highlighted the necessity for all the OSCE participating states to have a single stance regarding the actions of Russia, which endanger the stability of whole Euro-Atlantic community.

Secretary General of the OSCE M.P. de Brichambaut and Ambassador R.Norkus indicated that the reinforcement of the OSCE mission in Georgia by sending 20 additional military monitors was the first qualitative step forward in implementing the Six Points’ plan for the conflict settlement in Georgia, which was drafted by the French EU Presidency.

Ambassador R.Norkus remarked that Lithuania was ready to contribute to a further expansion of the OSCE military monitoring mission. However, he stressed that the OSCE monitors had to be granted a possibility to carry out their tasks, as is set out in their mandates. Namely – that would mean monitoring without any obstacles in the whole territory of Georgia and, first of all, in South Ossetia.

Lithuanian Ambassador expressed trust that the OSCE would continue to play a dominating role in regulating the conflict in Georgia and particularly in forming the international peacekeeping force.

During the meeting, the interlocutors also discussed main aspects of Lithuania’s future OSCE Chairmanship in 2011, practical issues of cooperation with the OSCE Secretariat and other OSCE institutions.

Lithuania joined the OSCE on 10 September 1991. In 2011, Lithuania will be the first among the Baltic States to hold the chairmanship of this international organisation.