News

On 18 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault, while participating in the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council. In the meeting, Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania especially appreciated its good bilateral relationship with the country’s strategic partner – France – and was interested in further strengthening cooperation, especially in the fields of security and defence, the development of economic relations and energy.

“Currently, both countries are reviewing and updating the Action Plan for the strategic partnership between Lithuania and France. We thus seek to further deepen cooperation with France in various fields,” said Linkevičius.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister thanked France for the country’s contribution to the Baltic Air Policing mission and the strengthening of security in the region.

“With my French counterpart we have discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw, NATO’s adapting to a changed security environment and the greater allied presence in our region,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

The French Foreign Minister briefed Linkevičius about his next day’s visit to Moscow and the ongoing talks on Ukraine in the Normandy Four format. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted that due to the lack of sustainable security in Donbas it was very difficult to expect progress in the implementation of the Minsk accords.

The Foreign Ministers also discussed the French Prime Minister’s possible visit to Lithuania this year.