The FINANCIAL -- Ensuring security in the OSCE region requires further efforts to tackle
transnational threats, prevent and resolve conflicts, and engage
meaningfully with partners in the Mediterranean and Asia, foreign
ministers of the 56 OSCE participating States heard at the start of the
18th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vilnius.
In the meeting, Ministers discussed the need to reinforce the OSCE's efforts in all of these areas, with a view to realizing the common vision of a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community.
Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania, welcoming the ministers and high-level representatives to the two-day meeting, said: “It is important to continue your work towards resolving protracted conflicts, dealing with new threats and challenges, and consolidating the fundamental values of the OSCE.”
She also stressed that “It is vital that human rights and the fundamental principles of democracy be transferred into national policies and practice. This applies to all human rights and fundamental freedoms – ranging from free elections to the safety of journalists.”
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, recalling the vision of a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community set forth by leaders at the OSCE Summit in Astana last year, urged states to respect their OSCE commitments.Ažubalis underscored progress already made in addressing transnational threats, called for increased engagement with Afghanistan, and urged the Ministers to support the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partner countries in their democratic transition, stressing that “their progress, security and stability are ours as well”.
Ažubalis highlighted recent progress made on restarting the official talks on the Transdniestrian conflict, urging the parties “to seize this opportunity” and called for increased efforts in resolving the other protracted conflicts in the OSCE region.
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