The implementation of OSCE principles, including a country's right to choose its own security arrangements, is fundamental to ensuring peace and security. Lithuania on its part, works actively in the Baltic region creating security and stability based on cooperation and wise good neighbourly relations. I hope that it is due to our efforts too, that the Baltic sea region is becoming one of the more stable and dynamically developing and promising regions in this part of the world. Mr. President, Conflicts are but one challenge for us. There so many inhabitants on Earth who need our help but sometimes can not even ask for it.
Children deserve our strongest love and yet helplessly suffer in many parts of the world.
It is the most universal human rights treaty the violation of which must be inconceivable and punishable. Another newly adopted Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour should also become universal and support and compliance. It symbolic and crucial the Convention has been strengthened by the Optional Protocol. Lithuania supports proposal by Austria, after adoption by the UN General Assembly, to have this new human rights instrument opened for signature on December 10 - Human Rights Day 1999. Mr. President, Nine days ago, Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke from this very place about a progressing supremacy of collective needs over individual needs.