OSCE expert meeting concludes with call for enhanced co-operation to tackle energy security challenges

VILNIUS, 14 September 2010 - As the only regional security organization bringing together key energy producers, consumers and transit countries in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area, the OSCE has a role to play in promoting energy security co-operation, concluded an expert meeting in Vilnius today.

The two-day meeting, which ended today, was organized by Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship, the incoming Lithuanian Chairmanship for 2011 and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis, speaking at the closing session of the conference, said that the 2011 Chairmanship would continue the Vilnius discussion by focusing on energy security and transport.

"With the participation of main energy producers, consumers and transit countries, the OSCE constitutes a favourable framework to deal with energy security challenges. The OSCE can offer for such a dialogue its unique pan-European and trans-Atlantic platform to support existing frameworks," he said.

More than 200 representatives from the 56 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, international organizations, business and academia attended the conference. Experts discussed such energy security challenges as establishing benchmarks for co-operation, advancing legal frameworks, developing infrastructure and ensuring its physical security, promoting transparency for fair competition and addressing climate change.

Goran Svilanovic, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said: "This Vilnius Special Expert Meeting represents a starting point.

"Energy security can mean different things for different stakeholders. Among this diversity of interests, concerns, perceptions and views, we are called to find a common denominator. In this regard I do believe continued dialogue and enhanced co-operation should be pursued. With growing interdependencies in a globalized world, lasting solutions to energy-related challenges can only be found if based on co-operative approaches."

The Secretary General will present a report based on the outcomes and recommendations of the Vilnius meeting ahead of the OSCE Summit in Astana in December.