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On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania sent a letter to his Polish counterpart Witold Waszczykowski, noting that the two neighbourly nations had a common interest in building a better life in partnership.

“Our countries have been entwined for centuries with history, institutions, culture, and desire for freedom. Lithuania and Poland must stand together to defend our freedoms and to strengthen security in our countries,” wrote Linkevičius.

According to Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, our co-operation is first-rate in many areas, but we have to think of just how to take our relationship forward.

“We share the strategic interest of credible and sustainable deterrence at NATO’s eastern border. We have to fully implement decisions of the NATO Summit in Warsaw. We need exercises and thorough planning to make sure NATO’s instruments are effective,” wrote Linkevičius.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted that Lithuania and Poland had been staunch supporters of the EU’s Eastern partnership and must continue to work to ensure the effectiveness of this important policy, and continue supporting the European perspective for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

According to Linkevičius, it is import to press forward with strategic infrastructure projects, such as the synchronization of the electricity systems of the Baltic states with European electricity grid, the project of gas interconnector between Lithuania and Poland (GIPL), and the Rail Baltica.  Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also drew attention to the fact that the Astravets nuclear power plant was being constructed in violation of international nuclear and environmental safety standards. “I believe it is our shared interest to send a clear signal that electricity, produced in violation of those standards, will not be accepted in the EU,” wrote Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

“Our institutions, academia, students, people speak, work together, and interact daily. I trust that close co-operation in a variety of areas and an open dialogue would also allow to better address mutual concerns, including those related to Lithuanians in Poland and Poles in Lithuania,” stressed the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy.

Poland recognized the independence of Lithuania on 26 August 1991. On 5 September of the same year the two countries established diplomatic relations.