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DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS MET WITH SWEDISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

On February 19, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Ministers Evaldas Ignatavičius and Rytis Martikonis met with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallén. At the meeting the officials discussed EU enlargement, EU Convention on EU future activities, Lithuania's integration into the EU issues and presented Lithuania's relations with neighbouring countries. Discussing EU enlargement issues Deputy Foreign Minister Rytis Martikonis noted that successful EU future depends on successful EU enlargement. Supporting this position Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Hjelm-Wallén underscored that Sweden considers enlargement as its basic priority. Lithuanian diplomats pointed out that, the financial framework 2004-2006 for the accession negotiations presented by the EU Commission is a good basis for further negotiations with the EU. Discussing the issue of direct payments to farmers of future EU member states Lena Hjelm-Wallén indicated that in the future, when new countries enter the EU, the reform of the Common agriculture policy (CAP) would have to be considered. Rytis Martikonis and Lena Hjelm-Wallén, being representatives of Lithuanian and Swedish Governments to EU Convention on EU future, discussed the activities of the multilateral forum. They agreed that the Convention should consider gradual EU evolution and not fundamental changes. Deputy Foreign Minister Ignatavičius presented to the high-ranking Swedish official Lithuania's relations with neighbouring states. The officials also discussed the issues of co-operation with the Kaliningrad region.