“It was symbolic that the Ambassador Lamberto Zannier was appointed to the post during Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the OSCE. Today, I sincerely thank him for taking initiative and for years of joint work to strengthen the organization, aiming to improve implementation of OSCE commitments. After the outbreak of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, he personally contributed to the OSCE’s prompt response to the crisis that allowed to set up the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to the country and to further strengthen the OSCE engagement with Ukraine,” said Linkevičius.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also called on the OSCE to focus more on the human dimension, strengthening the dialogue between the organisation and civil society, and to look at new ways to address the growing challenges to the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights.
The meeting also discussed the security situation in eastern Ukraine, efforts of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, and the human rights situation in Russian-occupied Crimea. The interlocutors also exchanged views on the election of the next OSCE Secretary General and of heads of the autonomous OSCE institutions.
Ambassador Zannier took up the post of the OSCE Secretary General on 1 July 2011. His tenure will end on 30 June.
