News

On 28 October, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas received new Ambassador of France to Lithuania François Laumonier. Minister of Foreign Affairs was glad about the intensive relations between Lithuania and France and active cooperation of the two countries in the European Union. According to P.Vaitiekūnas, the French EU Presidency played a very important role in solving the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

The Minister also mentioned the issue of Lithuania’s energy dependency and expressed hope that it would be possible to find a solution to this situation with the help of other EU members and the European Commission.

Interlocutors expressed satisfaction about the growing interest of Lithuanian people in the French language and culture, and the activities of the French Culture Centre, the largest one in the Baltic States. Since 2000, the International Day of Francophonie, has become a traditional spring event in Lithuania. This year, in July, at the session of Parliamentary Assembly of the International Organization of Francophonie in Quebec, Lithuania became an associated member of the organization.

During the conversation, it was also stressed, that Lithuania and France started to cooperate in the sphere of economy more intensively: last year the trade turnover increased by 12 per cent, and the French investments into Lithuania rose even by 60 per cent. Minister P.Vaitiekūnas expressed his hope about further strengthening of economic cooperation. Currently France is in the 16-th position on the list of biggest investors in Lithuania.

The ambassador of France to Lithuania F.Laumonier presented credentials to the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus on 14 October.

Ambassador F.Laumonier is the fifth Ambassador of France after the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.