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On 20-21 March, during the first official visit to Romania, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas met with Chairman of the Senate of Romania Nicolae Văcăroiu, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania Bogdan Olteanu and Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Adrian Mihai Cioroianu, and discussed the bilateral relations between Lithuania and Romania, the issues of cooperation in the European Union, and the upcoming NATO Summit in Bucharest that is to be held on 2-4 April. P.Vaitiekūnas and the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs also discussed the planned state visit of President of Romania Traian Băsescu to Lithuania on 5-7 November, 2008, and the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation between Lithuania and Romania.

During the meeting, the regional cooperation in the EU, also possibilities of the partnership among the countries of the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea and perspectives of the European integration of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine were considered. The issues of cooperation in the EU were discussed: the energy security, the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU budget, the EU development and the Neighbourhood policy in the East.

Speaking about the relations between the EU and Moldova, Minister P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that positive signals from Bucharest and Kishinev regarding the development of beneficial relations among the neighbouring countries would provide the best impetus to Moldova to implement the necessary reforms that are needed for becoming closer to the EU.

Speaking about the cooperation in the EU, P.Vaitiekūnas highlighted the significance of the energy security on the EU agenda.

‘It is especially important to strengthen the external energy policy and to provide alternative energy resources,’ said P.Vaitiekūnas.

Speaking about the upcoming NATO Summit in Bucharest, the Ministers of Lithuanian and Romania shared a unanimous opinion that during it Georgia and Ukraine should be invited to join the NATO Action Plan.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy conferred the Foreign Ministry award ‘The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium’ to Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M.Cioroianu for the development of relations between Lithuania and Romania. 

In Bucharest, P.Vaitiekūnas and Romanian Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Companies, Trade, Tourism and Liberal Professions Ovidiu Silaghi opened a Lithuanian-Romanian business forum. The Lithuanian businessmen, who accompanied the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the visit, took part in the forum. Among them there were representatives from companies: ‘Mano numeris’, ‘PakMarkas’, ‘Litamilk’, ‘Nesė Group’, ‘Arvi grupė’ and ‘Utenos mėsa’.

‘Lithuania is related to Romania through intensifying economic and trade relations. However, our countries are not yet exploiting the economic cooperation potential to the fullest extent. This Lithuanian-Romanian business forum is a perfect opportunity for Lithuanian businessmen to make useful contacts, get acquainted with the business environment and investment possibilities in Romania. The practical development of economic relations would finely complement the good relations between Lithuania and Romania,’ said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas in the forum.

P.Vaitiekūnas also met with the Romanian Minister of Transport Ludovic Orban and State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Mihaela Luca. During the meetings, possibilities of promotion of business relations and particular areas of cooperation wee discussed.

The issues of economic cooperation and future state visit of the President of Romania to Lithuania were also discussed by P.Vaitiekūnas and Presidential Adviser Anca Ilinoiu.

P.Vatiekūnas is returning to Vilnius on 21 March.