President to Discuss Issues Important to Lithuania with Leaders of International Organizations in Vienna
During his visit to Vienna, the Lithuanian President will deliver a speech at the meeting of OSCE Permanent Council. He will also meet with the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and Mr. Carlos Sanchez De Boado, Ambassador of Spain, a country holding the chairmanship of the Permanent Council.
The meetings will focus on OSCE activities in protecting and establishing human rights as well as spreading and consolidating democracy. In bilateral meetings, the Lithuanian President and OSCE leaders are expected to discuss the possibility to end “frozen” conflicts in Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabach and South Ossetia, also Lithuania’s intent to apply for the 2010 OSCE Chairmanship.
In recent years, Lithuania has been an active participant in OSCE: it takes part in OSCE election observer mission, cooperates in implementing measures promoting trust and security. Our country contributes to the organization’s efforts in fight against terrorism, enhancing energy security and elimination of old and surplus ammunition. In 2006-2007, the Lithuanian Republic allocated 100,000 euros for OSCE economic restoration projects in the South Ossetia.
On Thursday, President of Lithuania will meet with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (TATENA), the Nobel Peace Price winner Mohamed ElBaradei. President Adamkus will inform TATENA head about Lithuania’s plans to remain a nuclear energy producer, as well as regional cooperation between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in solving energy supply and energy security problems.
In 1993-2006, TATENA allocated 10 million US dollars for implementation of different projects. This support was particularly useful for Lithuania in developing nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure, enhancing nuclear and radiation safety, managing radioactive waste and improving the quality of treatment of oncological diseases. Last year, one of the major projects of technical cooperation with TATENA was successfully finished. For the implementation of the project On the Development of Oncological Radiotherapy, TATENA allocated around 1 million litas to the Institute of Oncology.
Later on in the day, President Adamkus will meet with the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Antonio Maria Costa. The Lithuanian President will discuss with the UNODC Executive Director prospects of joint Lithuanian and UN projects in the Ghor Province in Afghanistan and enhancing fight against trafficking in human beings.
Today, Lithuania together with UNODC is implementing a 5 million US dollar project to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment of drug abusers and prison inmates. Our country is also closely cooperating with UNODC in fight against trafficking in human beings.
On Thursday, President Adamkus will meet with Federal President of Austria Heinz Fischer.
The Lithuanian and Austrian heads of state will discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, situation in the Balkan region, EU energy and Eastern Neighborhood Policy.
President Adamkus returns to Vilnius on Friday
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIAN VALDAS ADAMKUS
WORKING VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
PROGRAM
7-9 March 2007
Wednesday, March 7
15:05 President departs for Vienna
17:15 (local time) President meets with Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Marc Perrin de Brichambaut
Thursday, March 8
09:45 President meets with Chairman of OSCE Permanent Council and Spanish Ambassador to OSCE Carlos Sanchez De Boado
10:00 President delivers a speech to OSCE Permanent Council
11:30 President Adamkus meets with Austrian President Heinz Fischer
11:45 Meeting of delegations headed by the Lithuanian and Austrian Presidents
12:30 Joint press conference by the Lithuanian and Austrian Presidents
13:00 Luncheon in honor of President Adamkus on behalf of President of Austria Heinz Fischer
14:30 President meets with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (TATENA) Mohamed El Baradei
15:10 President meets with Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Antonio Maria Costa.
Friday, March 9
11:05 President departs for Vilnius
