Solving the problem of protracted conflicts will be one of the priorities of Lithuania’s chairmanship to the OSCE, Foreign Minister of Lithuania Audronius Azubalis said in an interview with Trend News agency.

“We see how the unresolved conflicts hamper the development of these countries and prevent more active European integration,” said Azubalis.
According to the Minister, for Lithuania, as a future chairman of the OSCE, it is very important to continue the intense activities of the precursors, particularly Kazakhstan, in resolving conflicts in the former Soviet Union area.

“It is important to maximally use the existing formats of negotiations and not to rush. In the case of the South Caucasus, it is the Geneva discussions and OSCE Minsk Group. We fully trust the chairs of these formats of negotiations and it is our duty to ensure their unimpeded work,” he said.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister has decided to appoint a very experienced Lithuanian diplomat Giedrius Cekuolis as a representative on protracted conflicts, and personal representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will continue to work with the Minsk Group.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Lithuania will hold OSCE Chairmanship in 2011. On December 1-2, 2010 OSCE Summit will be held in Astana Kazakhstan.