News

On 12 May Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas together with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia currently holding the EU Presidency Dmitrij Rupel, ministers of foreign affairs of Latvia, Poland and Sweden Maris Riekstins Radoslaw Sikorski and Carl Bildt paid a visit to Georgia.

In Tbilisi the ministers were received by President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze. At the meetings with Georgia’s leaders and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili the situation in Georgia, economic and social reforms and forthcoming parliamentary elections were thoroughly discussed.

“Lithuania hopes that the EU will increase its participation in Georgia’s affairs. We want the EU to finally resolve to launch a civil mission in Abkhazia and to send Incident evaluation mission to Georgia as soon as possible,” Minister P.Vaitiekūnas said in Tbilisi marking that the EU should create an independent mechanism for evaluations of possible incidents in the EU neighbour state.

Lithuania proposes the EU to take serious decision on conflict regulation in order to firm its role and values in the neighbourhood. According to P.Vaitiekūnas, it is time for the EU to review its policy of peacekeeping and negotiation formats, assume more responsibility and seek more active role.

“I am sure that after conversations in Vilnius the EU will participate more actively in settlement of frozen conflicts in Georgia,” P.Vaitiekūnas said.

At the meetings with ministers of the EU Member States who arrived to Tbilisi, Georgian officials speaking about situation in Georgia stressed that military confrontation is not acceptable to Georgia. Georgia’s representatives emphasised that Georgia appreciates the efforts of the EU diplomats to contribute to constructive resolution of the situation.

At the ministers’ meetings with Georgian officials P.Vaitiekūnas also noted the necessity to strive for facilitation of the EU visa regime for citizens of Georgia, create conditions for free trade, strengthen the activities of the Friends of Georgia Group.

The forthcoming parliamentary elections were also discussed with the Head of the UN Observation Mission in Georgia Jean Arnault. About 150 observers from Lithuania are planning to observe these elections.

On 26 May at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council the EU foreign ministers will consider the situation in Georgia and discuss the further action plan.

Speaking about bilateral relations between Lithuania and Georgia the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy said that President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili are awaited in Vilnius. The Minister also conveyed to Georgian Prime Minister V.Gurgenidze Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas’ invitation to visit Lithuania.

This foreign ministers’ visit to Georgia reflects the European Union’s support to Georgia’s European integration aspirations and its territorial integrity.