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On 12 April in Luxembourg, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and other EU foreign ministers held informal meetings with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and Moldovan head of diplomacy Iurie Leancă and discussed with them negotiations on association agreements.

EU foreign ministers inquired K.Gryshchenko about possibilities to complete the negotiations on an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement that includes a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement before the end of 2011.

Minister A.Ažubalis stressed that Kyiv had made significant progress in the negotiations on an Association Agreement, including a free trade agreement, and called on K.Gryshchenko to make every effort to ensure that the negotiations would be successfully completed.

 “These negotiations present a challenge to Ukraine, because the country has to decide to resolutely move closer to the European Union. It is our duty to support Ukraine’s efforts and, in case of further progress, to affirm European perspective to this country,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

According to the Minister, stable economic relations with the EU and takeover of European norms would have significant positive implications for Ukraine’s long-term development.

At the meeting with I.Leancă, EU foreign ministers discussed possibilities to start negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with Moldova already this year.

Minister A.Ažubalis welcomed the successful process of the negotiations on an Association Agreement and stressed Lithuania’s support for opening the EU’s negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with Moldova in 2011.

At the meeting, foreign ministers also discussed the case of Transnistria. The head of the Lithuanian diplomacy claimed that he saw a potential for resuming formal Transnistrian conflict settlement talks.

“We need to work with partners, including Russia, to renew formal negotiations in the 5+2 format as soon as possible, because it is a common interest shared by all the parties that are trying to resolve this conflict,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

The Minister also supported Ukraine and Moldova’s goal to pursue the liberalization of the EU’s visa regime and encouraged the countries to implement the necessary reforms.