News

On 9 October in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze discussed the assessment of parliamentary elections in Georgia by international observers and stressed that Georgia took another step in consolidating democracy.

The meeting of Ažubalis and Vashadze also focused on relations between the European Union and Georgia, and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. The Ministers agreed that it was important for Georgia to continue on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration also after the elections. Ažubalis ensured that Lithuania remained ready to continue support Georgia along this path.

“Georgia is undoubtedly one of the leaders among the EU’s Eastern partnership countries and Lithuania wishes to see the country retain its position,” head of the Lithuanian diplomacy said.

He also hoped that the reform process would continue in Georgia and would not slow down, while the country would continue to prepare for talks with the EU in a responsible manner and allocate sufficient resources for this purpose.

The Ministers discussed security policy, including Georgia’s readiness to seek NATO membership. Ažubalis stressed Georgia’s contribution to the NATO-led security mission of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy informed his guest about Lithuania’s initiative together with Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Romania to send letters to President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the Georgian Dream coalition that won the parliamentary elections. In their letters, the Ministers call on the winning parties to acknowledge the will of the voters, recognize the results and ensure that the transfer of power is carried out in a constructive manner and in line with the democratic and Constitutional norms.