News

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius 16 October met with Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development George Kvirikashvili, who came to sign a cooperation agreement between Georgia and the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.  

L.Linkevičius congratulated Georgia on becoming a partner of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence and invited it to participate in the centre’s activities. The Minister also assured that Lithuania remains ready to help Georgia deepen its Euro-Atlantic integration.

The officials discussed the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). They noted that the agreement that is being implemented from 1 September opens new opportunities for developing trade and investment relations between Lithuania and Georgia.

L.Linkevičius stressed the importance of creating an effective and unified coordination mechanism for implementation of the Association Agreement. According to the Minister, Lithuania is ready to share its experience and is currently implementing a development cooperation project in Georgia aimed to strengthen institutional and administrative capacity in the area of implementation of the Association Agreement. L.Linkevičius also stressed Lithuania’s readiness to expand bilateral cooperation to implement EU Twinning projects.

The interlocutors stressed that despite an increase in the bilateral trade turnover, there were still many opportunities to deepen economic ties. L.Linkevičius noted the potential of the Lithuanian food industry and information technology companies, and stressed that Georgia’s joining the Viking train project would allow for an efficient and beneficial transportation of goods, as well as further development of the link between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.

At the meeting, the Lithuanian Minister expressed his support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. The officials noted that Russia’s proposals for a new agreement with the Abkhaz de facto authorities violated Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermined the principles of international law and Russia’s obligations of 2008.