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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius continues his visit to New York, where he is attending the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly. On 24 September, Lithuania joined the Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative was launched by the British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Lithuania, as a country operating in conflict zones, speaks strongly against the use of acts of sexual violence against women and girls as a tactic of war in armed conflicts.

“This is an obstacle to peace, reconstruction of countries, and human rights,” L.Linkevičius said.

The Foreign Minister also hailed the establishment of a High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Speaking during the inaugural meeting, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of equal opportunities, especially for women and young people, in accessing jobs and the role of partnerships, and called for taking into account national and community needs.

“Governments, the private sector, civil society and academic community must join effort, also share their ideas and experience to achieve the sustainable development objectives,” L.Linkevičius said.

During the meeting with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister discussed opportunities for cooperation between the European Union and the African Union, which is currently chaired by Ethiopia, as well as Lithuania’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Ethiopian Minister called on Lithuania to open its Embassy in Addis Ababa, which would be accredited to the African Union. Representations of more than 100 countries are accredited to the African Union.

The meeting between L.Linkevičius and the Eritrean Minister for Foreign Affairs Osman Saleh Mohammed also focused on bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

In New York, the Foreign Minister also met with EU heads of diplomacy to discuss the situation in Syria and the Sahel region, the Middle East peace process, Iran, and important issues related to the Eastern Neighborhood.

L.Linkevičius, heads of state and government and Foreign Ministers of UN Member States also took part in a dinner, which was hosted by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the margins of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.