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On 23 June Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas received Portugal‘s Minister for Foreign Affairs Luís Amado who paid a visit to Lithuania. The Ministers who belong to the current Troika of the Community of Democracies (Mali, Portugal and Lithuania) discussed the activities of the organization and priorities of the chairmanship.

“Lithuania considers its chairmanship of the Community of Democracies as a very important obligation and serious responsibility“, said Minister V.Ušackas. He congratulated Portugal with a successful chairmanship, which Lithuania will take over in July.

Minister V.Ušackas noted that during its chairmanship Lithuania will aim at promoting democratic governance in the world and will encourage strong position on the threats to democratic values. Closer ties between governmental and non-governmental organizations will also be on the chairmanship agenda as well as a more active role of the Community states in the United Nations.

Portuguese and Lithuanian heads of diplomacy also discussed the perspectives of the development of bilateral relations, the relations between the European Union and Russia, the results of the recent European Council meeting and a forthcoming informal meeting of the foreign ministers from the member countries of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Greece.

Minister V.Ušackas suggested that bilateral consultations and meetings would be organized more often in order to discuss such issues as the synergy of Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean, to share experience in alternative energy or scientific research and innovations.

According to the Minister, it would be especially valuable for the Lithuanian scientists to visit the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, as soon as it starts its activities in Braga.

The Community of Democracies was established in 1999, it is an intergovernmental organization of democracies and democratizing countries. The goal of the Community is to strengthen and deepen democratic norms and practices worldwide. The Community of Democracies acts in compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Community currently has 17 members: Cape Verde, Chile, the Czech Republic, India, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, El Salvador and the U.S.A..