Giedrius Cekuolis will be appointed Lithuania’s Special Representative for Protracted Conflicts during his country’s OSCE Chairmanship next year, the OSCE website reported.

Prior to the Astana summit Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis announced his decision to appoint Cekuolis a special representative for protracted conflicts, whereas personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk will continue his work with the OSCE Minsk Group.

Kazakhstan chairs the OSCE in 2010, and Lithuania will chair the Organization in 2011. Ireland will take over chairmanship in 2012 to be replaced by Ukraine in 2013.