News

On 21 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the President of the State of Israel Shimon Peres and the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss bilateral cooperation, Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council, the renewal of peace talks with Palestinians, and the security situation in the region.

“Lithuania and Israel enjoy special historical and cultural ties. We welcome the extended bilateral agenda, and we believe that it is an excellent basis for the advancement of friendship between our peoples and countries,” Linkevičius told the President of the State of Israel at the meeting.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister informed the President that Lithuania had fulfilled many meaningful tasks perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust victims, also presented the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilna Ghetto, the Fourth World Litvak Congress to be held in Vilnius this autumn, and discussed details of the Israeli President’s imminent visit to Lithuania.

At the meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister, Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania, just like the entire international community, had expressed concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and the continuing conflict in Syria. According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Lithuania supports the international community’s efforts to ensure regional security and stability.

“Israel is an important partner for the European Union, therefore, we are concerned about security situation in the region,” Linkevičius said at the meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister.

Linkevičius also met with Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin. At the meeting, the officials exchanged views on the Middle East peace process, addressed regional security and issues on the bilateral agenda.