News

During the discussion “Priorities and Challenges of Lithuania’s Foreign Policy” at the Seimas European Club on 25 March, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas presented the priorities of foreign policy.

Minister V.Ušackas noted that priority tasks for Lithuania’s foreign policy were related to the preparations for the presidencies and chairmanships over regional and international organizations, thus aiming at the guarantees for the implementation of Lithuania’s foreign policy objectives and the promotion of Lithuania’s international image.

The Minister reminded that the most important long-term objective of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to shape and implement effective foreign policy, which guaranteed Lithuania’s national security, sustainable long-term development of the state and welfare of its people.

According to the Minister, other foreign policy tasks include the development of constructive and principled cooperation with Russia, increased level of public awareness on foreign policy issues and improvement of the quality of consular services to the citizens of Lithuania.

Having made an intensive start in 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to represent as widely as possible the society which faces global challenges and economic recession.

“We work constructively to achieve that Lithuania performs as a creative and responsible member of global democratic community”, Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Ušackas said.

Lithuania will hold presidency of the European Union in 2013, will chair the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe in 2011, will be at the head of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 2009-2010, is chairing the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2009 and will be presiding over the Community of Democracies the next year.