News

On 7 July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius met with the outgoing Ambassador of Finland to Lithuania Harri Mäki-Reinikka. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassador for his personal contribution to the development of close and friendly relations between Lithuania and Finland.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister stressed that Finland was an important partner of Lithuania and a close neighbour in the region. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Finland. Trade and economic relations between the two countries are thriving. Finland is the seventh biggest foreign investor in Lithuania. Moreover, the two countries advance their important cooperation in the field of energy. According to tourism statistics, Finland took second place among the other Nordic countries.

Linkevičius stressed the importance of close cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries, especially in the field of regional security, including energy security, the fight against cyber and hybrid threats, strategic communications and Eastern Partnership issues. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister underlined the importance of maintaining the EU’s united stance on Russia and support for Ukraine. Linkevičius also drew the Ambassador’s attention to safety and security issues of the Astravets nuclear power plant in Belarus.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted that uncertainty after the United Kingdom’s EU referendum benefitted no one, so the role of the Baltic-Nordic cooperation in helping the countries to adjust their positions and to protect their interests, as well as the unity of the 27 EU member states became even more pronounced.