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On 28 December in Tbilisi, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili, Chairman of Parliament David Bakradze, and Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze as well as other officials of the country and discussed the situation in Georgia after the military conflict in August, its impact on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals.

Minister V.Ušackas indicated that Lithuania supported Georgia’s territorial integrity and urged Russia to respect its international obligations.

In addition, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs encouraged Georgia to develop a strategy of constructive relations with Russia even under such complicated circumstances. This strategy would help to re-establish mutual trust.

The Minister emphasized that the year was difficult for Georgia, but filled with hope.

“NATO’s decisions and the Eastern Partnership initiative that was announced by the European Union provide Georgia with real possibilities for integration into the Euro- Atlantic structures,” said V.Ušackas.

The Minister drew attention to the significance of a deep free trade agreement, which would allow Georgia to seek for an association agreement in the future.

Minister V.Ušackas encouraged Georgia, which is aspiring to the NATO membership, to maintain the speed of reforms that are under way. According to the Minister, the Annual National Program is the most important instrument for the implementation of these reforms. Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy promised that Lithuania would give every kind of political and practical assistance for the preparation and implementation of the program.

Besides, the Minister highlighted that further Georgia’s success would greatly depend on Georgia’s own efforts inside of the country.” Internal reforms in the country, political consensus and society’s support for their implementation, constant enhancing of the country’s administrative capacities and consolidation of democratic institutions are an important prerequisite for the modernization of Georgia,” remarked Minister V.Ušackas.

During the visit in Tbilisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with representatives from the opposition. 

On the evening of 28 December in Tbilisi, Minister V.Ušackas lit up the Christmas tree, which is the gift of Lithuania to the children in Georgia. Foreign Minister also met with members of the children’s band Bzikebi (“Wasps”), who won the 2008 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. 

On 27 December, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs started his working visit to Georgia with a trip to a refugee centre.

Minister of Foreign Affairs got acquainted with the difficult situation of more than 600 refugees, who were forced to leave their homes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia due to the August conflict and have found temporary shelter in the refugee centre in Tbilisi.

Minister V.Ušackas expressed hope that the day would come for these people to return home.

The Minister reminded that during the donor conference in October, in Brussels, Lithuania undertook obligations to allocate one million euros for Georgia over two years and informed that the greatest part of this support would be devoted to eliminating the consequences of war and improving the living conditions of refugees. 

Later that day Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Ušackas discussed the situation of refugees with Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia Hansjörg Haber.