News

On 19-20 May, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eitvydas Bajarūnas participated in consultations between Lithuania and India in New Delhi, India’s capital, and discussed the most important issues of bilateral cooperation, current regional and international issues, processes in South and Central Asian regions, cooperation in international organizations.

This visit was organized in compliance with the agreement between Lithuanian and Indian Foreign Ministers to strengthen bilateral political dialogue.

During the consultations, Political Director E.Bajarūnas met with India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur.

She paid a visit to Lithuania in March and met with the highest-ranking Lithuanian officials.

P.Kaur noted that Indian Ministry of External Affairs had recommended the Prime Minister of India to open an Embassy in Vilnius as soon as possible. Lithuanian Embassy was opened in 2008, in New Delhi.

“India, given its political weight and growing economic power, has become Lithuania’s major partner in the region,” E.Bajarūnas said.

Bilateral relations, preparation for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and India in 2012, agreements that are being drafted on economic, scientific and cultural cooperation were discussed at the meetings with Director General for Central Europe of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Banashree Bose Harrison.

Joint Secretary in charge of the Eurasia Division Ajay Bisaria, Joint Secretary in charge of the West Asia and North Africa Division Rajeev Shahare and E.Bajarūnas discussed the situation in Central Asia, Afghanistan and North Africa, and current issues of the United Nations Security Council. At the meeting, the officials also discussed how to intensify the EU-India relations.

E.Bajarūnas acquainted officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs with the agenda of Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2011 and also discussed issues of the reform of the Community of Democracies, which is currently presided over by Lithuania.

Indian officials positively assessed Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies, Lithuania’s efforts to reform and to intensify this organization. The world’s largest democracy - India - is one of the founders of the Community of Democracies.

The meeting between E.Bajarūnas and experts from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses of India focused on transatlantic security issues, Asian geopolitics and problems of Russia, China and the South Asian region. E.Bajarūnas also presented current issues of Lithuania’s neighbourhood and novelties of the EU institutional framework.