The OSCE Chairman in Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis addressing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting in Vienna, 24 February called the OSCE participating states to fulfill their commitments and take actions towards the goals of the Helsinki process, the perspective guided by the values and principles which each of our participating States have affirmed.
‘The OSCE participating States have made progress over the years, individually and collectively, toward the goals of the Helsinki process. But even today, as the Chairman-in-Office, I still see individuals facing challenges in securing their basic human rights, guaranteeing fair elections, protecting freedom of speech and the safety of journalists and ensuring that anti-terrorism measures comply with international human rights standards’ said he.
In his speech the OSCE Chairperson also touched upon the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution.
‘I have met with the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group. I am concerned about the potential for deterioration in the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Casualties have been occurring at an increasing rate along the Contact Line. The OSCE role in pursuing a settlement of the Nagorno‐Karabakh conflict through stronger engagement by the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group will be maintained. We invite the conflict parties, and other OSCE participating States, to consider options for confidence-building measures and strengthening the OSCE monitoring activities, particularly in light of growing tensions on the ground’ said Ažubalis.
As Chairman Audronius Ažubalis will visit the South Caucuses in mid-March.
