News

State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Evaldas Ignatavičius stressed the importance of press freedom at the UN Conference “New or Restored Democracies” held in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, on 10-12 September. In his report, the Lithuanian Foreign State Secretary reviewed the role of press freedom in creating a civil society. Foreign State Secretary Ignatavičius also participated in the bilateral meetings with Indian Foreign Minister Vinod Khanna, New Zealand Foreign and Trade Minister Phil Goff, Japanese Foreign Senior Vice-Minister Tetsuro Yano and Afghan Foreign Deputy Minister Haidar Reza. At the meetings, the development of bilateral relations, issues of international cooperation and possible visits of high officials were discussed. Deputy Minister Haidar Reza approved the role of international peace-keeping forces including the Lithuanian military in restoring the stability in Afghanistan. At the meeting, it was agreed to establish diplomatic relations between Vilnius and Kabul in the nearest future. Foreign State Secretary Ignatavičius and Lithuanian Ambassador to Mongolia Artūras Žurauskas also met with Mongolian President Nacagijn Bagabandi, who had visited Vilnius in June 2003, and Prime Minister Nambar Enkhabayar. The Mongolian President evaluated the visit to Lithuania very positively and stressed that Mongolia might become Lithuania’s gateway to Asia, whereas cargoes from Mongolia to the Scandinavian countries and Western Europe could be transported via the Klaipėda seaport. During the conversation, the officials discussed the possibility to send a Lithuanian business mission to Mongolia next year under the kind auspices of Prime Minister Nambar Enkhabayar. On his way to the conference, Foreign State Secretary Ignatavičius met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and discussed the visit of the Lithuanian delegation led by Chairman of Lithuanian Parliament Artūras Paulauskas, scheduled to begin next week, as well as the possibility to arrange an official visit of Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas to China next year.