For the Republic of Macedonia, the OSCE remains a delicate political instrument for dealing with the complex existing and emerging challenges. To respond appropriately, we need to strengthen our dialogue based on our shared values, to ensure long-term coherence of our priorities and actions and to enhance the flexibility of our response.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in his address at a plenary session on Tuesday at the 18th OSCE Ministerial Council, which is being held in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Referring to the region of Southeast Europe, FM Poposki said that Macedonia as well as other countries in the region had made enormous progress, both individually and collectively.

"The assistance of the OSCE and its institutions was instrumental and appreciated. We are now all on the path to the European Union and must endeavor to resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue," Poposki stated.

Amongst other things he said that the dramatic changes taking place in a number of Mediterranean partners called for enhanced cooperation with them, voicing confidence  that the OSCE, in cooperation with other international organizations and on request by partners, might provide valuable support and expertise in their transition to democracy.

"We also fully support further strengthening of the OSCE’s engagement with Afghanistan. The Republic of Macedonia is already giving significant contribution to the collective efforts to promote stable, independent, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan," Poposki noted.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial Council, Poposki held talks with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu and with France's Minister for European Affairs, Jean Leonetti.

A day after the ICJ judgement on the Macedonia vs Greece case, the Macedonia minister is set to meet with Greece's FM Stavros Dimas later in the day.

He will also meet with the host Lithuanian FM Audronius Azubalis, as well as with the Estonian, Latvian and Bulgarian counterparts - Urmas Paet, Edgars Rinkevics and Nikolaj Mladenov respectively.

Foreign ministers and high-level representatives of the 56 OSCE participating States will meet in Vilnius to discuss progress on pressing security challenges and take decisions to chart the way ahead. Among the participants are US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian FM Sergey Lavrov.

Issues to be discussed at the two-day meeting include protracted conflicts, transnational threats, media freedom and enhanced engagement with the OSCE’s Partner countries, including in the Southern Mediterranean and Afghanistan.

The OSCE Ministerial Council is convened once a year serving as the decision-making body of the organisation. Lithuania has taken over the chairmanship from Kazakhstan, which will be handed over to Ireland on January 2012.