The FINANCIAL -- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, congratulated his successor as OSCE Chairperson, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore today on Ireland taking over the OSCE Chairmanship from 1 January 2012, according to OSCE.

Ažubalis pledged Lithuania’s support for the Irish Chairmanship, including through the country’s participation in the OSCE Troika of past, present and future Chairmanships.He emphasized the importance of building on the momentum achieved in 2011, notably in resuming official 5+2 talks in the Transdniestrian settlement, strengthening the OSCE’s capabilities to address the conflict cycle and combat transnational threats, in particular with regard to cyber security, and enhancing OSCE engagement with Partners for Co-operation, including Afghanistan and countries in North Africa.

Ažubalis also underscored the importance of continuing efforts to re-establish a meaningful OSCE presence in Georgia, and addressing the situation in Belarus, where the OSCE Office was closed after its mandate was not renewed by the host country at the end of 2010.

Deputy Prime Minister Gilmore thanked Minister Azubalis for his promise of continued support and congratulated him on the significant achievements of the Lithuanian Chairmanship. He recalled that the two countries would be cooperating closely not only in the OSCE Troika in 2012 but also as Presidencies of the European Union in 2013.

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