News

On 1 July, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, paying a two-day working visit to the Republic of Austria, met with Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner. On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of Mindaugas coronation, Minister Valionis awarded the Austrian Minister with the Commander’s Great Cross of the Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for the merits in developing Lithuanian-Austrian relations and support for Lithuania’s integration into the EU. At the awarding ceremony the Lithuanian Minister also stressed the contribution of the Chief of Austrian Diplomacy to ensuring the payment of compensations to Lithuanians who suffered from the Nazi regime during World War II. At the meeting, the Lithuanian and Austrian Foreign Ministers discussed the preparations for the EU Intergovernmental Conference and pointed out that it was necessary to combine forces in order to achieve common goals and consolidation of the institutional balance in the European Union. The priorities of the Italian EU presidency and importance of implementing infrastructural projects in the area of transport were also discussed at the meeting. The Ministers exchanged their opinions on the New Neighbours Initiative. Both countries agreed that it was necessary to leave the door open for the new EU neighbours and develop cooperation with them. Minister Valionis informed his Austrian counterpart on the new order of travelling to and from the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation that came into force on 1 July. Minister Ferrero-Waldner congratulated Lithuania on solving successfully the Kaliningrad transit issue. The chiefs of Lithuanian and Austrian diplomacies also discussed the opportunities of developing economic and cultural exchange between the two countries, the Iraqi situation and other international topicalities. During the visit, Lithuanian Foreign Minister also met with the leaders of the UN Industrial Development Organisation, the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention and the International Atomic Energy Agency (TATENA). Upon the invitation of the Ambassador of the Netherlands at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Minister Valionis participated at the dinner also attended by OSCE Secretary General Jan Kubiš and ambassadors at the OSCE.