News

On 2 March, consultations between Lithuania’s and Russia’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs were held at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. The delegations were headed by Undersecretary of Lithuania's Foreign Ministry Evaldas Ignatavičius and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation Vladimir Titov. During the consultations, important bilateral issues, draft agreements that are under preparation, planned visits and joint events were discussed. The delegations were positive about the development of Lithuanian-Russian economic relations, they also discussed the perspectives of further development of economic relations. It was agreed to organize a bilateral business forum as soon as possible.

The participants of the meeting also agreed on the need to accelerate the negotiations on and the signing of the intergovernmental agreements concerning the protection and maintenance of the graveyards of military and civilian victims of war and repressions, concerning cooperation in culture, science, education and youth policies and the local movement of residents at the Lithuanian-Russian state border. On the subject of agreements, V.Titov informed that Russia’s government asked the Duma to ratify the agreement on the navigation in the Curonian Lagoon, signed by Lithuania’s and the Russia‘s Governments on 4 December 2007.

The delegations also discussed possible joint cultural projects - for example, exhibitions, debates of historians - to mark the millennium of Lithuania and the anniversaries that are important for both countries. It was noted that it was important to involve young people from both countries in these projects.

Participants of the consultations discussed the perspectives of cooperation in the international and regional organizations. In view of preparations for Lithuanian presidency in the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the increasing European Union’s attention to the Baltic Sea region, the perspectives of joint projects between Lithuania and Russia’s Kaliningrad Region concerning border infrastructure, environmental protection and tourism were discussed.

During the visit of Russia‘s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Titov, the agreement on cooperation in the field of archives between Lithuania’s and Russia‘s Ministries of Foreign Affairs was signed. This document provides Lithuanian and Russian historians and other experts with a possibility to get access to the diplomatic archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries.

The parties also exchanged notes, thus agreeing to regularly organize consultations at the level of Vice-Ministers and the Heads of Departments of Lithuania’s and Russia‘s Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation V.Titov is paying an official visit to Lithuania on 1-3 March. Today in Trakai, V.Titov will also meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vygaudas Ušackas. The agenda of the visit also includes meetings of V.Titov with Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of Seimas Audronis Ažubalis, Head of the Group of Cooperation with the Russian Federation Arvydas Anušauskas, Chancellor of the Government Deividas Matulionis, as well as with the members of Lithuanian-Russian Business Council.

In 2008, Lithuania's foreign trade with Russia amounted to 30.8 billion Litas and, during the past year, it increased by 75.3 percent. In 2008, Lithuanian exports to Russia increased by 37.8 percent and amounted to 8.9 billion Litas. Russia takes the first position on the list of Lithuanian export partners. On 1 October 2008, Russian direct investment in Lithuania was 2441.2 million Litas.