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During the European Union’s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 17 November in Brussels, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and his counterparts discussed relations with Belarus and the situation in Ukraine.

The Ministers discussed preparation for the upcoming EU-Ukraine Summit on 4 December in Kyiv and exchanged opinions on Ukraine’s internal policy matters, as the presidential election is approaching. Minister V.Ušackas expressed trust that after the presidential election in the beginning of 2010, political unity and cohesion would prevail and reforms would be implemented consistently in Ukraine. This is especially important in the current economic situation, aiming to avoid the repeat of the “gas crisis” that occurred in winter 2008.

The Minister stressed that Lithuania was interested in having the EU-Ukraine bilateral dialogue positively assessed at the EU-Ukraine Summit.

According to Minister V.Ušackas, we should strive to create a strategically important impetus for the development of the EU-Ukraine relations, to have the provisions regarding Ukraine’s European perspectives ingrained in the Association Agreement with the EU and to have the EU commitment to provide guidelines for the implementation of visa-free regime with Ukraine.

“The Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union states that any European state may apply to become a member of the Union. On the other hand, Ukraine is not yet ready for the membership and its partnership with the EU is not enough. Therefore, currently the EU has to become a clear guide and leader for Ukraine,” the Minister said.

EU foreign ministers agreed that Ukraine was an important and European partner of the EU. Therefore, the EU has to continue strengthening Ukraine’s European integration.

The Ministers also discussed the EU relations with Belarus.

The Council made a decision to extend restrictions on the travels of high-ranking Belarusian officials to the EU countries until October 2010 and simultaneously to suspend the application of these restrictions for the same period. Further deepening of the relations, including the renewal of the Belarus-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and opening the visa dialogue, will depend on the actions of Belarus aiming to make a real progress in the areas of the implementation of human rights, freedom of press and democracy principles.

“We have to closely watch how Belarus implements the EU’s requirements that are related to democratic reforms in the country and, when the progress is achieved, to make appropriate decisions, which would help to implement the necessary reforms and would effectively contribute to creating a more open society,” head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said.

The Minister highlighted that Lithuania’s interest was an independent, stable Belarus, which had the free market and was making steps towards the consolidation of an open, democratic society.