News

On 24-25 January, during the official visit in the Czech Republic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas discussed important issues of bilateral cooperation and international policy with the Czech officials.

During the conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg, a lot of attention was dedicated to bilateral relations, regional cooperation between the Baltic States and Vyshegrad countries and the European Union Neighbourhood policy.

Lithuanian and Czech Foreign Ministers agreed that the European Union had to devote more attention to the Neighbourhood policy in the East. During the meeting the Ministers also indicated that it was very important to seek to create a united external EU energy policy.

The Czech Republic expressed a wish to cooperate closer with Lithuania in the area of energy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic conveyed the support of the Czech Republic to Lithuania’s intention to join the Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE). The Ministers also discussed the upcoming forum on nuclear power issues in Prague this May, in which Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas intends to participate.

During the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic K.Schwarzenberg highlighted that the Czech Republic valued and was interested in the experience of the Lithuanian-lead Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor Province, Afghanistan.

The cooperation between the Baltic States and Vyshegrad countries and the EU Neighbourhood policy were also discussed during the meetings with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Miloslav Vlček and President of the Senate of the Parliament Přemysl Sobotka.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic Alexandr Vondra presented to Minister P.Vaitiekūnas priorities of the Czech Republic’s presidency over the EU in the first half-year in 2009. Lithuania, according to Minister P.Vaitiekūnas, is prepared to provide support to the Czech Republic’s EU presidency.  During the meeting the procedures of ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, the issues of the European Neighbourhood policy in the East and energy security were also discussed.

On 24 January, in the Lithuanian Embassy in Prague Minister P.Vaitiekūnas met with members of Lithuanian community, representatives of Lithuanian business and academic communities in the Czech Republic, was informed about the activities of the Saturday school named after Jonas Basanavičius, which functions in the Embassy building, and participated in a discussion with the Baltists from Charles University in Prague.