The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the decision of 30 December 2002 by the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to ensure continuity of this organisation’s representation in Belarus by opening a new OSCE Office in Minsk from January 1, 2003.
Lithuania also aligned itself to the statement by the European Union, which underscores that the latter decision by the Permanent Council will enable the OSCE to continue developing its activities in cooperation with the Belarussian Government and the civic society in order to promote democratic processes and implementation of OSCE commitments. The European Union hopes that Belarus will ensure proper functioning of the OSCE office by all means including speedy accreditation of its head and personnel.