News

On 10 March, during his first working visit to the U.S.A., Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas gave a lecture “The West, Russia, and Eastern Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities” at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington. The Minister dedicated most attention to the issues of economy’s recovery in the Eastern Europe, energy, transatlantic cooperation and relations with Russia.

In his speech the Minister emphasized that in these days of economic recession it would be a big mistake to shrink into ourselves and give in to temptations of protectionism. The Minister indicated that he expected the EU and the U.S.A., as the lodestar of free market and free trade, to lead by example the rest of the world.

“At times of economic slowdown, we need more free trade, not less,” head of Lithuanian diplomacy said and expressed trust that the U.S.A would remain faithful to the principles of free trade and would encourage also other countries to observe their obligations for the World Trade Organisation.

Speaking about Ukraine, Georgia and other Eastern European countries and their path to democracy and the free market during the global economy crisis, Minister V.Ušackas highlighted that the European Union and the U.S.A should cooperate more closely to integrate these countries into the common EU energy market that is being created, help to prepare a common economy revival plan for the Eastern Neighbourhood countries, and encourage the leaders of these countries to act collectively and jointly while tackling economic, social and political challenges.