One of the major topics discussed at the traditional meeting of the eight Baltic-Nordic foreign ministers taking place on 25-26 August in Palanga was the future of the Baltic-Nordic cooperation after Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia’s accession to the European Union and NATO.
At the meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden and the state secretary of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs it was stressed that after the double enlargement the cooperation among the states not only preserved its actuality but even further intensified, acquiring some new forms.
Cooperation between the branch ministries of the Baltic and Nordic states expands and prospects of closer cooperation between the countries’ institutions are being actively discussed.
This cooperation pursues one common goal – to make the Baltic region safe, economically strong and competitive.
At the meeting, relations with Russia and Ukraine and situation in Belarus, Moldova and the Southern Caucasus states were discussed as well as the prospects of more active cooperation with these countries and their integration into transatlantic and European structures.
The Nordic-Baltic cooperation plays a great role in expanding the area of security and stability to the East.
The ministers evaluated the aspects of security policy following the NATO summit in Istanbul, addressed the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Western Balkans, Sudan and Sri Lanka.
Just before the start of the formal session, the eight Baltic-Nordic foreign ministers had a working breakfast with initiators of the world famous peace plan for the Middle East known as Geneva Accord - former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin and former Minister of Culture and Information of the Palestinian National Administration Yasser Abed Rabbo.
At the meeting, opinions on the situation in the Middle East were exchanged and the possible resolving of the current crisis in the region was discussed.
On the same days, meeting of political directors of the foreign ministries of the Baltic and Nordic countries was held. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius represented Lithuania at this meeting.
The Baltic-Nordic foreign ministers have been holding regular meetings since 1993. The last NB-8 meeting in Palanga took place ten years ago. The next traditional meeting of foreign ministers will take place next August in Denmark.