News

On 11-12 January in Trakai, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis held meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon to discuss the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, Eastern partnership and security policy issues.

The Ministers and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State attended the informal Snow Meeting of experts in international affairs and security policy from European and North American countries.

At the meetings with his Latvian and Swedish counterparts, head of the Lithuanian diplomacy stressed that while coordinating the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (Nordic Baltic Eight, NB8) in 2012, Lithuania would aim to strengthen solidarity in the Nordic-Baltic region, to promote practical cooperation of the countries, to activate the flows of information and to take steps towards a deeper economic integration. These measures should contribute to the region’s competitiveness and success.

“The security and economic stability that were created in the region over the years are more than a safe shelter. This is also a certain instrument and an example which we have to follow taking a broader look at our neighbourhood”, Ažubalis said.

During the bilateral talks, the Lithuanian and Latvian ministers agreed to further strengthen economic and social ties of the two Baltic nations. Joint effort and special attention of the Governments of the two countries has to be given to projects in the fields of energy, transport, security, education, science, culture and common information space. The ministers discussed the working visit of Ažubalis to Latvia due this spring.

During the meeting of Ažubalis and Gordon on 11 January issues of global and regional security, perspectives of the NATO air police mission in the Baltic States were discussed.

Foreign Minister presented Lithuania’s priorities for the coordination of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, NB8, and the preparations for the Nordic-Baltic summit in Vilnius due on 23 April.