On September 5-6 in Vilnius, the United Nations, International Organizations and Human Rights Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with the representatives of the Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministries, responsible for the United Nations issues. This meeting is held annually in the country that coordinates the Nordic Baltic Eight (NB8) cooperation.

 Participants of the meeting from five Nordic and three Baltic countries discussed their countries’ priorities in the upcoming 67th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which starts on 18 September in New York. They also shared views on the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals after 2015, capacity-building for civil society in post-conflict countries, women’s rights issues.

Lithuania spoke in favour of setting a goal to enhance the efficiency of the United Nations system, consolidating the principle of gender equality and promoting women’s rights. The significance of energy and nuclear security was emphasized during discussions on sustainable development.