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During a conference “Diplomatic service for  Lithuanian people: mutual connection, help to the citizens and business” held at the annual meeting of heads of Lithuanian diplomatic representations which started on 8 May Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas marked the willingness of Lithuanian diplomatic service to look for new forms what would increase the effectiveness of Lithuanian diplomatic activities.

In his speech the Minister talked about the work of the diplomatic service with Lithuanians living abroad, economic diplomacy, use of modern information technologies in diplomatic activities.

Speaking about Lithuanians living abroad, P. Vaitiekūnas urged Lithuanian embassies not to forget about ordinary people when implementing foreign policy goals and striving for strategic aims. The Minister thanked consular officers, who are not afraid of raising the institutional questions: how to improve the laws or eliminate problems arising when providing consular help to citizens living abroad.

The Minister also spoke about necessity for more effective service provision to citizens, for faster issue of documents employing information technologies.

In his speech the Minister paid considerable attention to the issues of Lithuania’s economic representation abroad.

P. Vaitiekūnas stressed that all efforts should be put in order to ensure undivided representation of Lithuania’s interests abroad.

“The competition presses us to reject ineffective ways of action and look for more effective,” the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy underlined.

P. Vaitiekūnas encouraged the diplomats not to be afraid of unusual decisions and original ideas, and be modern in  representing interests of Lithuanian business abroad.

The aim of the conference – look for the ways to ameliorate the work of Lithuanian institutions with citizens living abroad in order to provide more effective services, and look for the most suitable model of Lithuania’s economic representation, with the view of attracting more investments to the country’s economy and promote export of  Lithuanian goods and services.

Director of Consular Department of Foreign Ministry Vytautas Pinkus spoke about problems and challenges of consular services provision to citizens, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Oskaras Jusys led the discussion “Services for Lithuanian citizens abroad: rights, obligations, possibilities and interests”.

Vice-President of Swedish Trade Council  for Central and Eastern Europe A.Skinnars told about Sweden’s economic representation experience, State Secretary of Foreign Ministry Deividas Matulionis led the discussion “Lithuania’s economic representation abroad: problems and perspectives”.

Today the participants of the annual meeting of heads of Lithuanian diplomatic representations were received by  the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus,  meeting with Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas is also on the agenda.