Press Releases

Negotiations on protracted conflicts have moved forward during Lithuanian OSCE chairmanship

Tuesday, December 6, Vilnius - President Dalia Grybauskaitė welcomed the participants of the Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

According to the President, in the entire course of OSCE chairmanship the resolution of protracted conflicts has been a key priority for Lithuania, therefore it is very important that after five and a half years of inactivity official multilateral negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement were renewed in Vilnius. Dalia Grybauskaitė encouraged all of the interested parties to mobilize the much needed political will for a long-term sustainable solution.

The President underlined that joint political will would also be necessary for the settlement of conflicts in South Caucasus.

"There is no place for war or even a threat of war in Europe. We face too many serious challenges, old and new, therefore we need to act immediately and together," she said.

During its OSCE chairmanship, Lithuania further enhanced joint efforts to combat challenges and threats, in particular aimed at ensuring energy and cyber security.

"I would encourage us to have a frank conversation about nuclear safety. It is only through open discussion that we can and will implement uniform safety standards for nuclear technology, construction and maintenance. And it is only by sharing reports on nuclear safety tests and conducting transparent environmental impact assessments that we will strengthen our common security," Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

The President underlined that all the countries had to join their efforts on concrete programmes to meet the challenges. A new concept on countering drug smuggling and the Border Guard School in Medininkai included into the new package of OSCE projects for Afghanistan - intended to be approved in Vilnius - will contribute significantly to promoting fight against illicit drug trafficking in the entire OSCE area.

Speaking at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, President Dalia Grybauskaitė also underscored the importance of transferring human rights and the fundamental principles of democracy into national policies and practice.

Press Service of the President