News

On 26 April in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius is taking part in the Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, where he replaced the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

The delegation led by Linkevičius includes also the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Vygaudas Ušackas and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Patricia Flor.

The Foreign Minister spoke on behalf of the European Union and reaffirmed the EU’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan. The EU annual support for Afghanistan exceeds 1 billion euros.

Linkevičius stressed that the Istanbul Process, which was launched in 2011, set an example of excellent regional security cooperation, building confidence between parties. Speaking about Afghanistan, the EU would like to see improved management of public finances, transparent elections, progress towards a peaceful and stable society and reconciliation.

In the margins of the conference, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov. The Foreign Ministers welcomed intensive bilateral relations, discussed the forthcoming meeting of the Lithuania-Kazakh intergovernmental commission, agreed on mutual support of the bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and spoke about the load of the freight train Saule. The Foreign Ministers also shared their thoughts on the negotiations for an EU-Kazakhstan’s enhanced partnership and association agreement.