News

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius began his visit to New York, where he is attending the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meetings on the margins of the General Assembly, he highlighted the importance of the principles of solidarity and constructive cooperation to activities of international organizations and relations between countries.

L.Linkevičius participated in a ministerial meeting of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Lithuania being its observer state. The meeting discussed the situation in Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also the organization’s efforts to contribute to conflict resolution, assurance of sustainable peace and security in French-speaking countries.

During the meetings with Foreign Ministers of Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, and Canada, L.Linkevičius stressed the need to expand bilateral trade relationship, promote cooperation in the field of energy, and explore new possibilities to expand cooperation within international fora. The Foreign Minister also requested the countries to support Lithuania’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

L.Linkevičius supported the statement encouraging a civil society’s activities. 24 Member States announced their statement at a High Level Event on Supporting Civil Society, which was hosted by the U.S. President Barack Obama.

 At the meeting with representatives of Jewish organizations in the U.S., the Foreign Minister discussed development cooperation issues, including preservation of historical memory and perspectives on further relationship.

The Foreign Minister and Ambassador Carlos Pascual, the U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, discussed the implementation of Lithuanian and regional energy projects, LNG terminal construction, nuclear security issues. L.Linkevičius thanked the U.S. for supporting Lithuania’s energy policy.

The Foreign Minister also attended the U.S. President Barack Obama’s reception on the margins of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.