PERSPECTIVES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE PERSIAN GULF STATES DISCUSSED IN SAUDI ARABIA
On 8 May Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas took part in the yearly ministerial meeting of the European Union and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
During the meeting Heads of diplomacies of the EU and the Persian Gulf States paid most attention to the negotiations of the EU and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council on the Free Trade Agreement, as well as the regional issues in the Middle East: the Middle East Peace Process, issues of Iran and Iraq. Opinions were exchanged on the wide scope cooperation between the two regional organizations in the future.
Speaking about the Free Trade Agreement, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that Lithuania was interested in the agreement to be signed in the nearest time. According to the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy, this project of future cooperation between the EU and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council is mutually beneficial.
During the event Minister P.Vaitiekūnas separately met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Saud al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qartar Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir Al-Thani.
During the bilateral meetings Minister P.Vaitiekūnas stressed the necessity to intensify the cooperation in the areas of economy and culture. P.Vaitiekūnas invited the Ministers to the Vilnius Energy Summit that is to be held this autumn.
Mr Vaitiekūnas handed proposals for Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Head of Lithuanian diplomacy also presented Lithuanian activities in Afghanistan reconstructing the province of Ghor and invited the Heads of diplomacies of the Persian Gulf States to join the Afghanistan reconstruction projects.
During the bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Anna Fotyga issues important for both countries were discussed. Minister with State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary László Varkonyi discussed issues of establishing Lithuanian Consulate General in the territory of the Hungarian Embassy in New Delhi.
On 9 May Minister P.Vaitiekūnas is returning to Vilnius.
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