Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security to be discussed by OSCE foreign ministers, media freedom on agenda, says Chairperson

VILNIUS, 5 December 2011 – Foreign ministers and high-level representatives of the 56 OSCE participating States will meet in Vilnius tomorrow to discuss progress on pressing security challenges and take decisions to chart the way ahead.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, said: “The world is facing many pressing challenges, from the ongoing financial crisis to the events in the Middle East and North Africa. It is important that at such times of crisis we keep our focus on the goal of establishing a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community as set out by our leaders a year ago at the OSCE Summit in Astana. This meeting is an opportunity to make progress on challenges old and new.”

Issues to be discussed at the two-day meeting include protracted conflicts, transnational threats, media freedom and enhanced engagement with the OSCE’s Partner countries, including in the Southern Mediterranean and Afghanistan.

Ažubalis expressed hope that decisions would be also taken on a range of other shared security challenges from the OSCE’s role in promoting energy and cyber security to the safety of journalists.

“A culture of impunity and complacency threatens the work and even the lives of journalists in our region. It is the duty of all states to ensure that journalists can do their job of informing the public without fear,” he said.

Ažubalis was speaking at a news conference on the launch of a guidebook on the safety of journalists produced by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, with the support of the Lithuanian Chairmanship. The guidebook offers concrete guidelines to protect journalists and to ensure that those who use force or violence against journalists are brought to justice.

Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media said: “The issue of journalists’ safety has catapulted to the forefront of international attention and for good reason. With this guidebook, the OSCE is raising awareness of the issue throughout our vast region. It sets out, in practical terms, what the authorities and civil society, those responsible for the safety of journalists, can and must do to create a climate conducive to fearless reporting and reporting free from fear.”

The 18th OSCE Ministerial Council will bring together some 40 foreign ministers and other top officials from the 56 OSCE participating States as well as from the OSCE’s 12 Partner countries and other international and regional organizations. The Ministerial Council is held annually and is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE.

Live video of the sessions of the OSCE Ministerial Council, as well as the concluding news conference on 7 December, can be viewed here: //www.osce.org/event/mc_2011/live

A blog by OSCE foreign ministers on the Ministerial Council is available here: www.facebook.com/osce.org