News

Lithuania’s incumbent Presidency of the Community of Democracies is ready to initiate the joining of this intergovernmental organization by Egypt, provided that the country will decide to choose the path of democracy.Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, who is currently on a visit to the United States of America, will hold meetings with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and New York, and will discuss with them an intention to initiate an invitation to Egypt to join the Community of Democracies ministerial meeting that is due in Vilnius.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks that sustainable and irreversible transition to democracy, free and fair elections were a common goal of the democratic world and the Egyptian people. Minister A.Ažubalis emphasized the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The next ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies will be held in Vilnius on 30 June- 1 July. The issue of specific support for countries in transition to a democratic regime is among the issues that are expected to be discussed during this meeting.

The Convening Group, consisting of seventeen countries including Lithuania, the U.S.A., Poland, India, Mexico, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Italy, South Africa and Chile, also has to approve of the invitation of this country to the ministerial meeting.

Several hundred representatives of various democracies are expected to attend the meeting in Vilnius: the heads of state, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, also representatives of non-governmental organizations and youth.

Mid-2009 through mid-2011, Lithuania holds the Presidency of the Community of Democracies, which joins together more than 100 countries. The Community aims to promote and strengthen democracy and democratic institutions around the world.

Minister A.Ažubalis is paying a visit to the U.S.A. on February 12-17. During the visit, the Minister will hold meetings with the U.S. administration officials and members of the U.S. Congress. A meeting is also planned with the Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee Iliana Ros-Leithenen and other members of the U.S. foreign affairs committee. At the United Nations Security Council, Minister A.Ažubalis will outline the objectives of the Lithuanian Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will attend the hearings at the U.S. Helsinki Commission, will meet with Sen. Benjamin Cardin, former Chairman of the Congressional Helsinki Commission, and will participate in a discussion at the Atlantic Council.