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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (MFA) welcomes the Lithuanian Parliament’s decision to set up a parliamentary assembly of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) and the Ukrainian Parliament (Supreme Rada). By this decision, another important step has been made towards enhancing the Lithuanian-Ukrainian strategic partnership, which was announced in the joint declaration of the Lithuanian and Ukrainian heads of state on 28 March 2002. The Seimas adopted the decision on establishing the Parliamentary Assembly on 5 March 2003. The intensification of the Lithuanian-Ukrainian relations coincided with significant developments in Lithuania’s Euro-Atlantic integration process: invitation to NATO, the pending signature of the Accession Treaty with the European Union. As a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and a future full-fledged member of NATO and the EU, Lithuania fully supports Ukraine’s efforts of integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures and accession to the WTO. In order to contribute to Ukraine’s euro-integration processes, Lithuania actively participates in deliberating the current policy of the EU regarding the New Neighbours Initiative and submits proposals, which would present Ukraine with various opportunities to avail itself of the new initiatives of the European Union. Lithuania welcomes the recent Ukrainian-Russian agreement on delimitation of the state border as an active step in creating favourable conditions for Ukraine’s euro-integration aspirations. This agreement will enhance the Ukrainian sovereignty and ensure its even more solid position among the states of the region. At the same time, it paves the way for more active cooperation between the regions of the Baltic and the Black seas contributing towards stability and safety in Europe. After signing the Declaration of Lithuanian and Ukrainian Presidents on 28 March 2002, the bipartite Council of Presidents was established, also several other bipartite institutions were foreseen to set up, including inter-parliamentary and inter-governmental cooperation councils, forums of business people and intellectuals. For the purpose of implementation of the tasks set out by the declaration, the Statute of the Council of Presidents was signed in 2002, a business forum was held and documents on establishment of Lithuania-Ukraine parliamentary forum were signed. The establishment of the Lithuanian-Ukrainian Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Governmental Cooperation Council as well as the organisation of a forum of intellectuals are scheduled for this year. The agenda of intense bilateral summits is being planned, too.