News

At the meeting with the President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Eugene Czolij on 7 November, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius discussed Ukraine’s domestic political situation, negotiations on the Association Agreement with the European Union and other issues related to Ukraine’s integration into the EU.

E.Ignatavičius emphasized that over the last twenty years Lithuania’s position on Ukraine's integration into the EU was and remained consistent, and stressed that without Ukraine, Europe would be incomplete like a puzzle with a missing piece.

According to the diplomat, a successful completion of the negotiations between Kyiv and Brussels on the future of the Association Agreement would consolidate Ukraine’s future in Europe, ensure that it would abide by the European values and promote not only economic, but also legal reform in the country.

E.Czolij thanked Lithuania for its active support of Ukraine’s presence in the EU institutions, and requested to continue supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.

According to the President of the Ukrainian World Congress, Lithuania and Ukraine have a long-lived common history, Lithuania had suffered the aggression of occupational regimes and, therefore, is very well aware of the ongoing processes in Ukraine and can share its experience with this country.

E.Czolij stressed that Ukraine’s parliamentary election, which is due next year, would be the litmus paper test for the evaluation of the consolidation of Ukraine’s democratic choice.

In Lithuania, E.Czolij is also meeting with the Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) Irena Degutienė and Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.

The Ukrainian World Congress was founded in 1967 in Canada. It coordinates the activities of the Ukrainian communities in 32 countries. E.Czolij was elected President for a five-year term in 2008.