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On 3 July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Minister of Defence of Georgia Irakli Alasania, who is visiting Vilnius. The Ministers discussed the onset of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Eastern Partnership and Georgia’s participation in the initiative, as well as the country’s aspirations and progress toward integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic communities.

At the meeting, Linkevičius presented priorities for the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council and noted that the Eastern Partnership and further relations with the Eastern neighbours were among the most important tasks of the Lithuanian EU Presidency, which began on 1 July.

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Georgia is undoubtedly a leader among the Eastern Partnership countries. The Foreign Minister ensured Lithuania’s support to the ongoing reforms in Georgia and its European integration aspirations. The Ministers agreed that the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held on 28 and 29 November in Vilnius would open up great opportunities for demonstrating the progress made by the country, including the progress in negotiations on the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

Speaking about security policy, the Ministers noted the readiness of Georgia to seek NATO membership. Linkevičius highlighted Georgia’s contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed the significance of ensuring the rule of law and called on Georgia to avoid actions that could be treated as political persecution of opponents. The Foreign Minister assured his guest that Lithuania remained an active supporter of Georgia’s aspirations for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. However, Linkevičius underlined that the integration process should be based on unconditional respect for shared democratic values.  In this respect, Linkevičius emphasized that it was important to ensure compliance with international standards for free and democratic elections during Georgia’s presidential election on 31 October.

Georgia’s Minister of Defence Alasania, who is on trip to Lithuania at the invitation of the Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, also met with the Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Seimas (Parliament) Artūras Paulauskas, visited the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, and familiarized himself with activities of the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.