Naujienos

Minister Schwarzenberg,
Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour and a pleasure for me to welcome you, on behalf of the Lithuanian 2011 OSCE Chairmanship, to the Concluding Meeting of the 19th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum. This important event is devoted to one of the main priorities of the Lithuanian Chairmanship, the development of sustainable energy and transport.
 

As Chair of the OSCE, Lithuania has endeavoured to promote effective and pragmatic activities geared towards ensuring long-term progress in the Economic and Environmental Dimension. We have also supported the efforts to define a complementary role for the OSCE in the field of energy security.

In this regard, we have acknowledged the important groundwork carried out in the past years under previous OSCE Chairmanships.  Let me just recall the 2009 Athens Ministerial Decision on Strengthening Dialogue and Co-operation on Energy Security, followed in September 2010, during the Kazakh Chairmanship, by the Special Expert Meeting on Energy Security in Vilnius, and by the OSCE Secretary General’s  Report Concerning the Complementary Role of the OSCE in the Field of Energy Security. Throughout this year, we have done our utmost to build upon these accomplishments.

It is my conviction that, over the next months, we should concentrate our efforts on setting up, under the auspices of the OSCE and within the existing frameworks, a Task Force on Energy Security.  This idea was proposed in the Secretary General’s Report.  Such a Task Force would connect political and expert-level experiences and would underpin the OSCE-wide dialogue on this extremely important topic. It would also be useful in providing ideas and concrete proposals for the OSCE’s role with regard to confidence building; development of early warning mechanisms for energy security; or promoting good governance and transparency in the energy sector.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the main subjects of today’s meeting - sustainable energy - is closely related to energy security. Long-term energy security largely depends on the sustainable production and consumption of energy. The issues at stake are complex and interlinked. This is why we have to adopt a broad view of energy security.

A thorough analysis is required in order to find the best solutions for diversifying sources, routes and technologies for energy production and distribution, enhancing the protection of critical energy infrastructure, promoting transparency and good governance in this area, or effectively addressing the impact of energy production and consumption on the environment.

The Lithuanian Chairmanship strongly believes that such interrelated challenges as climate change, effective resource management and energy efficiency can and must be addressed at the same time. This is the way to obtain concrete results and to facilitate the achievement of our long-term goals in the field of energy security.

I am particularly satisfied that all key elements of sustainable energy development,  such as energy efficiency, effective national policies, good governance and transparency and regional co-operation will be addressed and discussed in an integrated manner during our Forum. The February preparatory Forum meeting in Vienna paved the way for today’s deliberations.

It is my hope that this Forum will generate useful and substantial recommendations, and that at the Vilnius Ministerial Council in December, our ministers will be able to adopt a decision to consolidate the OSCE’s engagement in the field of energy.
 
Looking at the other topic of this Forum, namely development of sustainable transport - I would like first of all to point out that transport and transport related issues have been in the focus of past Economic and Environmental Forum meetings. Continuity and consistency are important, and I hope this year’s Forum process, and in particular the second preparatory meeting in Druskininkai, Lithuania, in April of this year, have contributed to strengthening partnerships and developing a common vision on how to tackle various transport related challenges.

The role of sustainability, energy use and environmental impact has become a central issue when discussing modern means of transport of goods and people. From that perspective, I am particularly glad that during today’s meeting special attention will be dedicated to the direct connection and interdependence between transport and environment.

The development of sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly transport can increase the competitiveness of the economies of OSCE participating States. At the same time, sustainable transport can contribute to alleviating important environmental problems, and to the creation of better of healthier living conditions for our citizens.

The relevance of sustainable energy and transport for our everyday lives has been highlighted, once more, by the level of interest manifested by photographers and the general public for the photo contest organized in connection with this Forum. I invite you to take a look at the finalists’ photographs in the main lobby downstairs.

Dear participants,

Let me finish by wishing you all an interesting and fruitful discussion, which should lead to very practical proposals and innovative ideas for our future activities.

And last but not least,  I have the pleasure to invite you all to the special side event devoted to the presentation of the Lithuanian tourism sector, which will take place today just after the closure of the meeting and before the Chairmanship’s Reception. I would like to use this opportunity to invite you to visit Vilnius – capital of the Lithuanian 2011 OSCE Chairmanship and host city of the 2011 European Basketball Championship.

Thank you.