OSCE Chairmanship starts consultations on continuing OSCE’s work in Belarus

VILNIUS, 3 January 2011- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, said today that the Chairmanship had started consultations that aim to find a solution that would enable the OSCE to continue its work in Belarus.

“I deeply regret that the Belarusian authorities did not extend the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk. The OSCE Chairmanship will work together with Belarus and the other OSCE participating States to continue the Organization's important work in the country. We have started informal consultations to find an agreement acceptable to all,” Ažubalis said.

The OSCE has maintained a presence in Minsk since 1998. The mandate of the Office must be renewed annually by the 56 OSCE participating States and it expired on 31 December 2010.