LITHUANIA’S OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP HAS A GOAL TO INCLUDE ENERGY SECURITY INTO THE ORGANIZATION’S ACTIVITIES
Lithuania's chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has a goal to include energy security into the OSCE activities, Lithuania's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius said on 13 September in Vilnius, during the OSCE Special Expert Meeting on Assessing the OSCE's Future Contribution to International Energy Security Cooperation.
According to Vice-Minister E.Ignatavičius, in order to prepare for future challenges and to ensure energy security, it is crucial to guarantee the diversification of energy resources' supply and their variety, to develop energy infrastructure and protection from international threats, as well as to promote fair competition and more efficient use of available resources.
The Vice-Minister said that this could be achieved only through cooperation at the international and national level.
At the event that is taking place on 12-14 September in Vilnius, nearly 200 experts of international organizations, business and academic communities from 56 countries are discussing the issues of strengthening energy security, regional and interregional cooperation, creating transparency in energy market, public and corporate governance, and energy resources diversification.
OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Goran Svilanovic are also attending the meeting. On 14 September, the meeting will be closed by Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, future Chair-in-Office of the OSCE in 2011 Audronius Ažubalis.
Based on the conference, the OSCE Secretary General will prepare a report on the organization's role in addressing the issues of energy security.
The event was co-organized by Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship, Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.
