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19^th Economic and Environmental Forum First Preparatory Meeting, 2011 02 07

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentleman,

I am very pleased having opportunity to open the first event in the OSCE Economical and Environmental Forum under the Chairmanship of Lithuania. We are especially glad that this event is devoted to discussions on sustainable energy.

It is a very timely topic on the OSCE agenda. The Astana Summit set high standards for the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship. The Heads of the OSCE participating States stressed in the Astana Declaration the significance of implementing OSCE commitments in all three dimensions and highlighted the importance of the enhancement of the energy security dialogue.

Lithuania has constantly supported strengthening energy security in the OSCE area. Therefore, Lithuania aims during its OSCE Chairmanship to proceed with effective and pragmatic activities oriented towards ensuring continuity in the Economic and Environmental Dimension, and with an eye to shaping the OSCE’s role in energy security field.

Significant decisions have been adopted in this regard during previous chairmanships. I would like to mention the Athens ministerial decision on Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation on Energy Security in 2009, followed by Special Expert Meeting on Energy Security in Vilnius during the Kazakh Chairmanship last year, and the Report by the OSCE Secretary General Concerning the Complementary Role of the OSCE in the Field of Energy Security.

Allow me also to use this opportunity to thank Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and the  Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities, Mr. Goran Svilanovic for the excellent work done preparing the Report. It reflects the main ideas and issues discussed during the Special Expert meeting and presents several recommendations.

Today  I would like to highlight some of them:

-         First, the ability of the OSCE to play a complementary role in the field of energy security, especially bearing in mind its unique pan-European and trans-Atlantic platform, allowing facilitation of the  dialogue on energy issues, processes and topics in a long term perspective;

-         Second, the OSCE’s capability to promote the energy dialogue as a factor for peace and cooperation, as well as the necessity for the organisation to search for win-win solutions;

-         And third, possibility for the OSCE to promote dialogue on energy security issues by using its unique framework that involves the main energy producers, consumers and transit countries.

We are of the opinion that suggestions made in the Report could be a very good basis for further discussion on a clearer mandate of the OSCE in the energy security field.

Sustainable energy is closely related to energy security. To our mind, long-term energy security largely depends on the sustainable production and consumption of energy. In this light, we take a complex view on energy security. A thorough analysis is required in order to find the best solutions on how to diversify sources, routes and technologies in energy production, guarantee protection of critical energy infrastructure and to promote transparency and good governance in this field.

We strongly believe that the interrelated challenges, such as climate change, sustainable resources management and energy efficiency, must be effectively addressed at the same time in order to help us to facilitate the long-term goals of energy security.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me finish by wishing you all success in your discussions and common work and by inviting you and your colleagues to the second preparatory meeting which will be held in Druskininkai, in the beginning of April. Also, we would be very glad to welcome you in the Forum meeting which will take place in Prague in September.

Thank you.