LITHUANIA CHAIRS LAST OSCE ASIAN CONTACT GROUP MEETING IN 2012
On 23 November 2012, the Lithuanian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Amb. Giedrius Čekuolis chaired the sixth and last meeting of the OSCE Contact Group with Asian Partners for Co-operation in 2012.
At the meeting, the new Ambassador of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, made a presentation on integrated global crime and justice policies for the rule of law and development. Dr. Frances Mautner-Markhof, Head of the Austrian Center for International Studies (ACIS), reported on the outcome of the ACIS-OSCE Seminar that had been held on 13-14 November 2012 on the process of regional security co-operation in Northeast Asia and the importance of OSCE experience in that context. Each presentation was followed by a lively discussion.
This meeting is also the first Contact Group meeting attended by Mongolia not as a Partner for Co-operation but as the newest 57th OSCE participating State and Ambassador of Mongolia, H.E. Dr. Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan, was warmly welcomed by the participants in his new role.
The meeting on 23 November completes the 2012 annual working cycle of the Asian Contact Group. The Lithuanian Chair of the Group will shortly present the annual report about its activities to the forthcoming 19th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin on 6-7 December 2012.
