FOREIGN MINISTERS OF LITHUANIA AND THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
On 15 June in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Riyad Al-Malki signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations. The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a mechanism of regular consultations to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues. Under the memorandum, foreign ministers of Lithuania and the Palestinian National Authority will promote contacts between the Lithuanian and Palestinian institutions, dealing with international policy issues. They will also work in order to strengthen relations between the Lithuanian and Palestinian private sectors, cultural and non-governmental organizations.
During the meeting, Ministers A.Ažubalis and R.Al-Malki discussed opportunities to enhance the bilateral Lithuanian-Palestinian cooperation. Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority R.Al-Malki said that he valued the progress made by Lithuania since the re-establishment of its Independence. Therefore, the Palestinian National Authority is especially interested in Lithuania’s experience in the sphere of justice, administrative capacity-building and education.
“We do our best to contribute to the reconstruction of Palestine and to strengthen its administrative capacities,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.Since 2010, Lithuania has delegated a police officer to the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories based in Ramallah (EUPOL COPPS). In 2009, Lithuania received a group of representatives from the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, who monitored the Lithuanian presidential elections.
At the meeting, the Ministers also exchanged opinions on the Middle East Peace Process, the situation in the Gaza Strip and the European Union’s bilateral relations with the Palestinian National Authority.
The programme of the visit of Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority R.Al-Malki also includes meetings with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas (Parliament) Emanuelis Zingeris, Chancellor of the Prime Minister Deividas Matulionis and a visit to the Centre of Oriental Studies at Vilnius University. This year the Centre of Oriental Studies marks its 200th anniversary.
Minister R.Al-Malki invited the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy to pay a visit to the Palestinian National Authority.
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