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On December 5-6 and 7-8, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis as the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe visited Moldova and Ukraine, respectively. Minister Valionis met President of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Voronin and discussed Moldova’s membership in the Council of Europe. The Lithuanian Minister met Moldova’s Parliamentary Chairman Yevgenia Ostapchuk and Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev and Foreign Minister Nicolae Dudau. Minister Valionis also urged the Moldovan government to use more actively the assistance programmes of the Council of Europe, to implement the reform of local authorities, to intensify setting up of legal system, to recognise the legality of the Orthodox Metropole of Bessarabia. The foreign ministers signed two ebilateral agreements on visa-free travel for diplomats and readmission. Minister Valionis also opened Lithuania's Honorary Consulate in Chisinau. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Valionis visited Ukraine and met President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh and discussed the ongoing reforms in Ukraine, preparation for parliamentary elections in Ukraine next year, bilateral relations and economic cooperation. Minister Valionis also met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko. Minister Valionis briefed on the priorities of Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and invited the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to participate in the 110th Committee of Ministers’ session in Vilnius in May 2002. The main theme of the session is planned to be “Regional Co-operation: Its Impact on Stability and Democratic Reforms in Europe”. Minister Zlenko praised Lithuania’s initiative and suggested to intensify cooperation between the countries of the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions. The Lithuanian Minister also met the chairmen of Ukrainian parliamentary committees and other officials.