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During an official visit of Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius to Georgia on 23 October, the representatives of Georgia unanimously expressed their concern about the Russia-proposed draft agreement with Abkhazia on alliance and integration.

“European countries must not remain on the sidelines. The agreement between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia violates principles of international law and obligations undertaken by Russia after the Russian-Georgian war of 2008,” said L.Linkevičius.

According to the Minister, Lithuania supports Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and the international talks in Geneva aimed at finding a peaceful and mutually satisfying solution to the conflict.

During the visit, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister visited the occupational line in the region of South Ossetia that is under the control of Russia.

L.Linkevičius had a conversation with representatives of the ruling and opposition parties, during which he drew attention to challenges faced during the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and of a substantial package for Georgia endorsed at the NATO Summit in Wales. The Foreign Minister called on all political parties in the country to promote an open discussion through dialogue and stressed the necessity of solidarity and focus for achieving Georgia’s strategic goals of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy underscored the importance of creating an effective and unified coordination mechanism for implementing the Association Agreement with the EU and stressed that Lithuania was ready to share its experience with Georgia. Currently, Lithuania is implementing a development cooperation project in Georgia aimed to strengthen institutional and administrative capacity in the area of the implementation of the Association Agreement.

During the visit, L.Linkevičius met with the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili, the Minister of Defence Irakli Alasania, the Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, the Speaker of the Parliament David Usupashvili, representatives of the opposition party United National Movement, visited the NATO Liaison Office.

Photos: The Foreign Ministry and the Parliament of Georgia.