News

The European Union has to seriously consider ways of practical support to Georgia in achieving stability and progress, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said on the occasion of the first anniversary of signing Lithuania-Georgia Charter on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. “We have to regard Georgia as a country which is important for Europe. Too often the agendas of EU foreign ministers meetings are determined by crises, but not by the EU’s interests,” the Minister stressed.

According to the Minister, after the announcement of Georgia’s “State Strategy on Occupied Territories: Engagement through Cooperation”, the EU receives possibilities for a practical involvement into the activities in these territories without breaching the principle regarding the acknowledgement of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

“The EU has to help Georgia to implement this strategy. Increasing Russia’s military power in these territories causes huge anxiety,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

A year ago, on 28 April 2009, Lithuania-Georgia Charter on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration was signed. The Charter adds a new dimension to bilateral cooperation and establishes an institutionalized mechanism for bilateral consultations.

The document provides for the establishment of the commission, which is responsible for the political dialogue between Lithuania and Georgia, bilateral consultations and cooperation in the political, economic, military, scientific, cultural and other fields.

Currently, the Charter’s action plan is being successfully implemented. In accordance with the action plan, expert support is provided to Georgia in its preparation for negotiations on an EU-Georgia Association Agreement and in the implementation of Georgia’s Annual National Programme, which allows the country move closer to NATO membership.

Under the Charter, Lithuania has committed to increase its practical support for strengthening Georgia’s institutional capacities in agriculture, veterinary medicine, regional development, environment protection and health service, internal affairs and other fields.

Georgia remains among Lithuania’s main recipients of development cooperation assistance. In 2009, Lithuania implemented 22 development cooperation projects worth 804 thousand Litas in this country in the fields of strengthening regional cooperation, protection of children’s rights, strengthening democratic society and cultural cooperation.

This year, Lithuania also intends to provide assistance for regional cooperation, regional administration, cultural and youth exchange and the establishment of new business contacts.

Currently, Lithuania is running a charity campaign to support the children of Georgia war refugees. The culmination of the initiative will be a benefit concert on 1 May. Organizers intend to allocate the funds that will be raised during the concert to psychological or medical assistance for children of Georgia war refugees. You can also make an online donation here.

The Charter on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration was signed last year in Vilnius by the then Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and Georgia’s Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze.