Naujienos

This year, under Lithuania’s Chairmanship, OSCE participating States have taken meaningful steps towards realizing the vision articulated at the Astana Summit of a free, democratic, common and indivisible Euro‐Atlantic and Eurasian security community stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok:

 Agreement has been reached to resume the official 5+2 negotiation, with the first session scheduled 30 November in Vilnius.
 Serious efforts were made to achieve progress in the conflict dealt with by the Minsk Group. The Geneva International Discussions have settled into a predictable rhythm and a number of CBMs have moved forward. Perhaps most importantly, no new conflict has broken out.
 We have refocused the OSCE human dimension agenda, highlighting digital media and the safety of journalists, and those related topics where our commitments need to be upheld, and perhaps updated.
 Election observation by ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly has once again proven its value in helping participating States adhere to agreed democratic norms.
 Cyber security and energy security have become integral parts of the OSCE agenda, while we have moved to strengthen the Organization’s approach to transnational threats.
 We also have re‐energized our dialogue with our Mediterranean Partners, and offered the Organization’s assistance to their democratic transition processes;
 Among our Asian Partners, we have taken stock of our efforts to promote a stable, independent and prosperous Afghanistan.
 And we have welcomed the initiative of Mongolia, which has judged our Organization worthy of joining as a participating State.
 Finally, we have gathered a team of top leaders and managers for the OSCE, both in the Secretariat and the Institutions and in the Field.

The forthcoming Ministerial Council in Vilnius offers us a vital opportunity to mark the progress we have made together and to set a clear course for the OSCE’s future. With this in mind, we hope that the MC’s outcome will reflect the constructive approach the participating States have displayed throughout the year.

The Chairperson‐in‐Office Minister Audronius Ažubalis believes that the Ministerial Council should address vital issues on the OSCE agenda, following up in concrete ways on the priorities identified by our Heads of State and Government at Astana. It is of fundamental importance to maintain the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security and its cross‐dimensional approach. Almost 30 draft decisions have been tabled. Key draft decisions relate to, from our perspective:

 Strengthening our capacity with regard to the conflict cycle;
 Ensuring freedom of expression and pluralism in digital media and the safety of journalists;
 Consolidating and strengthening of OSCE mandates in the area of addressing Trans‐national Threats (TNT);
 Promoting energy security, including through the formation of a task force;
 Promoting the use of economic and environmental activities as CBMs;
 Enhancing engagement with Partners for Co‐operation, in particular with Afghanistan and Partner states in North Africa;
 Strengthening arms control / CSBMs, under the lead of the FSC.

The Chairmanship put together a carefully balanced package of decisions, stemming directly from the Astana Summit agenda. In doing so, we took into account the interests of all participating States. The Chairmanship is ready to facilitate discussion of other decisions as they arise. But let me be clear on this – the Chairmanship expects very much that any new proposal on additional decisions have to constructively complement the package, not unravel it or undermine the “Spirit of Astana.”

The Chairmanship asks each and every participating State to bear in mind the great responsibility that has been placed upon our shoulders by our Heads of State and Government, and to show flexibility at this stage. Minister Ažubalis is personally engaging his fellow Ministers, more than 40 calls have taken place, asking to actively engage in helping to unblock discussions where they are stuck, and to move ahead in negotiations.

As regards the political documents that might emerge from the Vilnius Ministerial, we will likewise take into account the views of all participating States. We believe a political document in its essence would need to reflect the Astana commitment to move forward towards the vision of a comprehensive, co‐operative and indivisible security community. In our view, some elements of the political document, such as specific conflict situations, are better treated separately in regional statements. On the basis of the debate today, we expect to soon be ready to table a draft political document for potential adoption at the Vilnius Ministerial.

The Chairmanship encourages the parties, within the relevant formats, to develop regional statements addressing the conflict dealt with by the Minsk Group, the 5+2 Process and the Geneva International Discussions. Great efforts have been made throughout this year, and we believe there is sufficient progress for the Ministers to register. We ask the parties concerned to engage constructively, show responsibility, and acknowledge the progress made. There is a window of opportunity that must not be missed.

The Chairmanship also would like to facilitate a decision this year on the Chairmanship of our Organization beyond the end of 2013. We call upon the participating States to uphold the Porto decision on the Role of the OSCE Chairmanship‐in Office, and to take a decision at Vilnius. The CiO has been engaged and remains available to broker mutually acceptable compromises.

In order to contribute to international efforts to stabilize the situation in and around Afghanistan, the OSCE should, in our view, play its role as part of the global community’s efforts. The Vilnius MC will follow important international events on Afghanistan in Istanbul and Bonn. In this context, we hope for adoption at our MC of a decision on “Strengthening the OSCE’s Engagement with Afghanistan”. We believe that such a decision should encourage the further development of the Organization’s engagement with Afghanistan in the fields of border security and management, anti‐narcotics, police and customs training, and encourage the executive structures to explore additional forms of co‐operation on good governance, economic development, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and other areas where the OSCE can offer relevant experience and expertise.

We strongly believe in the OSCE, and in the ideals, norms and principles it embodies. The vision of a security community is one we all strive for. So does Mongolia. We look positively on Mongolia’s application to become the OSCE participating State and expect a debate here in Vienna and in Vilnius on the matter.
The Chairmanship has observed with satisfaction that Croatia has met its mandate goals with regard to refugee returns. The Chairmanship continues its consultations on that part of the OSCE Office’s mandate regarding war crime trials and will report when those consultations are completed. This will give us a better sense of how to proceed with regard to the eventual closure of the Office.

I will turn now to the organizational details.

At this stage we expect that no fewer than 42 Foreign Ministers from participating States and four Foreign Ministers from partner countries will attend the Ministerial Council. We look forward to the participation of EU High Representative Ms Ashton, Council of Europe Secretary General Mr. Jagland, UN Undersecretary‐General Mr. Pascoe, and many high‐level representatives of various international and regional organizations. The CiO is talking personally to Ministers of those participating and partner States who have indicated thus far their intention to participate at a lower level.

I thank the OSCE Permanent Council for confirming the Draft Agenda for the Ministerial and of the decision on the timetable and organizational modalities. As you may know, there will be a number of events that will complement the Ministerial Council itself, and will dovetail nicely with the current OSCE agenda. On 4‐5 December a CiO/ODIHR conference for the civil society of the Mediterranean partners will take place in Vilnius. It will focus on electoral practices, the rule of law and role of the civil society. In parallel, a traditional NGO forum will also take place in Vilnius.

Last year in Astana, our political leadership acknowledged that the security of the OSCE area is “inextricably linked” with the security of neighbouring regions, in particular in Asia and the Mediterranean. The events of 2011 have underscored the wisdom of those words. The OSCE has developed an extensive set of norms and commitments and accumulated an impressive stock of experience. We stand ready to share this acquis with our partners, in particular with those partners in North Africa who have recently embarked on their own democratic transition processes. The Chairmanship suggests addressing the topic of the MED partners/Arab Spring, among other topics, at the working lunch for the Ministers on the 6th of December. The Foreign Ministers of participating States and Partners for Cooperation will have an opportunity to lay down their vision and strategic framework for the role of the OSCE in assisting the ongoing societal change and democratic processes in Southern Mediterranean. We hope that such a discussion will serve as a catalyst for the adoption of a strong MC decision on Partners. The Ministers may also wish to focus part of their lunch debate on strengthening OSCE engagement with Afghanistan, and on Mongolia’s application.

We are also considering the organization, in the margins of the Ministerial, of a co‐ordination meeting among heads of International organizations with regard to the Southern Mediterranean. We hope it will be possible for our Secretary General to chair this meeting, and for UN USG Pascoe to take the lead in the debate. A concept paper is in the works.

Dear Colleagues, I would be most thankful for your comments. The Chairmanship will be listening very carefully to you and to what your views are and will act accordingly.

I thank you.