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On 9 December, during a meeting with students and teachers from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University, Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas reviewed important foreign policy issues, the achieved goals and main tasks. In his speech, the Minister highlighted the continuity of Lithuania’s foreign policy and noted that while carrying out our foreign policy goals, it was important to aim at implementing national interests of the state instead of contrasting values and pragmatism.

“The policy based on values and a pragmatic policy, are two sides of the same coin”, head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said.

The Minister said that this year Lithuania aimed to be an active decision-maker in the European Union and NATO.

“The success of Lithuania’s foreign policy will depend on our ability to become co-authors and developers of intellectual ideas and initiatives”, Minister V.Ušackas noted.

According to him, partners in the EU and NATO are first of all interested in Lithuania‘s experience with the EU’s Eastern neighbours. Lithuania has successfully filled this niche in when the EU’s common foreign and security policy towards Georgia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine was shaped.

Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy noted that last year special attention was dedicated to the efforts of the Baltic States to get rid of the status of an "energy island“. The EU’s financial support for the Swedish-Baltic electricity link was a proof of success in this field.

The Minister said that Lithuania‘s European policy aimed at reflecting the expectations of the citizens: speedier recovery of economy, reduction of social exclusion and increase of competitiveness.

However, Minister V.Ušackas pointed to the fact that it would not be wise to rely only on the EU’s support when striving to increase the competitiveness.

“We need to shape positive public attitudes towards the entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs, especially now, at the time of economic downturn. By assuming financial risk and responsibility, the Lithuanian businessmen will help the country to overcome the recession,” head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said.

The Minister highlighted the importance of free trade for the welfare of Lithuania and noted that the economic recession  encouraged to strengthen the economic diplomacy even more than before and the systematic search for  new export markets was being  implemented as well as Lithuania was presented to potential investors.

The global world presents not only common possibilities, but also common threats. Therefore, Lithuania remains an active participant in international security operations which have an objective of fighting against terrorism. The Minister said that in the discussion on the NATO Strategic Concept, Lithuania aims to consolidate NATO’s core functions that would add to strengthening global security and would ensure NATO’s presence in the Baltic States. Lithuania will continue to develop its strategic partnership with the U.S.A.

On the subject of Lithuania’s Eastern policy the Minister noted that it was based on the principles of good neighbourhood. This year it was strengthened with the new instrument - the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, as well as the trilateral cooperation with Belarus and Ukraine was established and the constructive dialogue with Russia was further developed.

The Minister informed the participants of the meeting about his next week’s visit to the Middle East, namely to Israel and Palestine, and spoke about the re-establishment of special relations between Lithuanians and Jews. The Minister invited the participants to tap into the historical memory, as well as to educate the younger generation intolerant towards totalitarianism.

While speaking about consular activities, Minister V.Ušackas stressed that the goal was to improve the quality of consular services for Lithuanians living abroad and for foreigners willing to travel to Lithuania.

“The objective is to ensure the provision of fast, high quality and easily accessible consular services,” Minister V.Ušackas said.