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On February 14, Antanas Valionis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) met in Lisbon with Jaime Gama, his Portuguese counterpart. Portugal is currently chairing over the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe). The two Ministers discussed the possibilities of closer co-operation between the CoE and the OSCE putting special emphasis on common fight against terrorism. Minister Valionis voiced the necessity to intensify legal co-operation and to promote a dialogue between different cultures and religions. He indicated that in fighting against terrorism human rights should also be respected. The Chairmen-in-office of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE and the OSCE also discussed the situation in the Balkans and Caucasus and exchanged their opinions on the situation in Belarus and Moldova. At the beginning of the meeting Minister Jaime Gama stressed that both countries were successfully developing bilateral relations. Portugal is watching the considerable progress made by Lithuania as it integrates into NATO and the EU and is fully supporting Lithuania's membership in these organizations, he said. The Ministers Antanas Valionis and Jaime Gama also signed the agreement between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Portugal on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Fiscal Violations. Minister Antanas Valionis invited Minister Jaime Gama to the session of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE to be held on May 2-3, 2002 in Vilnius. On February 15, Minister Valionis met with Portuguese State Secretary for European Affairs Maria Teresa de Moura. The officials discussed Lithuania's EU accession negotiations and bilateral issues.