Statement by the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU in response to the report by the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Dr. Halil Yurdakul Yigitgüden

Prior to taking up the agenda, the Chairperson, on behalf of the Council, offered condolences to the Russian Federation in connection with a terrorist attack that had taken place in Volgograd on 21 October 2013. The Russian Federation thanked the Chairperson for the expression of condolences. Lithuania-European Union, Mongolia, the United States of America, Turkey and Azerbaijan also expressed condolences to the Russian Federation. Address by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, H.E. Thorbjørn Jagland. Report by the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. Permanent Council Decision No. 1094 on the election support team to Afghanistan. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) rights in Norway. Pride parade entitled “Montenegro Pride-Proudly.” Case of Mr. Azimjon Askarov in Kyrgyzstan. Statement by France on behalf of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference (SEC.PR/340/13). Report on the activities of the Chairperson-in-Office. Farewell to the Permanent Representative of Israel (Partner for Co-operation) to the OSCE, Ambassador Aviv Shir-On. Upcoming Model OSCE project to be held in Vienna and Belgrade in 2014. High-level Conference on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe, held in Yerevan on 21 and 22 October 2013.