News

On 1 December in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Ažubalis held bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Canada and Uzbekistan. The Foreign Ministers discussed possibilities to promote bilateral business relations, to resume activities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Georgia and support for the European Humanities University (EHU).

At the OSCE Summit of Heads of State or Government, Minister A.Ažubalis had a conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov. During the meeting, the Foreign Ministers discussed opportunities for the development of bilateral economic cooperation.

The Foreign Ministers agreed to schedule for next year in Vilnius the meeting of the Uzbek-Lithuanian intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation and the Uzbek business mission to Lithuania.

Uzbekistan is Lithuania’s one of the largest trading partners in Central Asia. In January-August 2010, Lithuania’s trade turnover with Uzbekistan amounted to 65.43 million Litas and, compared with the corresponding period in 2009, it increased 1.65 times.

Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said that he valued Uzbekistan’s contribution to the development of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) for freight transport of goods to Afghanistan. The NDN is a series of logistical arrangements connecting the Baltic seaports with Afghanistan by railway.

Last week, the U.S. Administration decided to ship the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) cargo to Afghanistan, using the Port of Klaipėda and Lithuania’s transit potential.

The Ministers also discussed the fight against drug trafficking and possibilities to intensify OSCE’s role in resolving this issue.

At the meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, Minister A.Ažubalis emphasized that as the incoming OSCE Chairman-in-Office, he spoke up for the strengthening of the OSCE efforts in dealing with the consequences of the war in Georgia, improving country’s humanitarian situation and increasing mutual trust.

“It is essential to resume the OSCE activities in Georgia and to give it a proper mandate, which would contribute to the enhancement of a post-conflict situation, the implementation of reforms and the promotion of democratic processes,” the Minister said.

G.Vashadze thanked Lithuania for the position that was adopted by the Alliance regarding Georgia’s integration into NATO during the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon.

At the meeting with Canadian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent, Ministers discussed possibilities to resolve protracted conflicts, the situation in Kyrgyzstan and support for the European Humanities University (EHU), which was relocated to Vilnius after its closure in Minsk.

Minister A.Ažubalis expressed hope that Canada would continue to provide financial support for university’s activities. In 2007, Canada allocated 50 thousand Canadian dollars to support distance learning at EHU.

P.Kent stressed Canada’s support for Lithuania’s upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE.

The OSCE Summit takes place in Astana, the Kazakh capital, on 1-2 December.

On 1 December in Astana, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister will also participate in the OSCE Troika meeting with representatives from the OSCE Asian partner countries and will chair the meeting with the organization’s Mediterranean partner countries.

The Troika consists of OSCE’s current chairmanship of Kazakhstan, plus the Foreign Ministers of Greece, which held the OSCE chairmanship last year, and Lithuania, which will assume the chairmanship of the organization in 2011.