News

On 21-22 January, during political consultations in Germany Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis discussed important issues of bilateral cooperation, the European Union’s Neighbourhood policy, and perspectives of the EU and Russian relations after the presidential elections in Russia.

During the visit, Undersecretary of the Ministry Ž.Pavilionis met with Members of the German Bundestag Karl-Georg Wellman and Eckart von Klaeden, Coordinator of German-Russian Intersocietal Cooperation at the German Foreign Office Andreas Schockenhoff, officials from the German Chancellery and President’s Office, as well as with the German Foreign Ministry's political director Volker Stanzel and with the Head of the European Department Peter Tempel.

During the meetings with the German officials, a lot of attention was dedicated to Lithuanian-German bilateral relations. This year Germany is holding the Year of Baltic Culture and Lithuania is holding the Year of German Culture.

The official opening of the Year of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Culture in Germany will take place on 15 March with a concert of the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica at Berlin Philharmonic. The Presidents of the Baltic States and the President of Germany are patrons of the Year of Culture. President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves and President of Germany Horst Köhler are going to take part in the events.

Undersecretary of the Ministry Ž.Pavilionis conveyed an invitation to the Members of the German Bundestag to take part in the commemorative events of 16th February in Lithuania and in the historical conference in Seimas titled ‘1918: Lessons and Mistakes. Relations among Lithuania, Poland and Germany during the Interwar Period and after the End of the Cold War’. This year Lithuania celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Day of Re-establishment of the State and Germany was the first country to recognize the independence of Lithuania in 1918.

During the meetings with the German officials, the issues of the EU Neighbourhood policy were also discussed, the necessity to establish balance in the EU Neighbourhood policy with regard to the southern and eastern EU neighbouring countries was emphasized. Lithuanian and German officials welcomed the recent democratic presidential election in Georgia and expressed trust that the country would continue to implement the necessary reforms and to develop democratically. 

During the discussion on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, it was highlighted that both Lithuania and Germany were going to ratify the Treaty in the first half-year of this year.  During the consultations, the upcoming NATO Summit in Bucharest in April was discussed, as well as other important issues of security policy.