News

At the forum “The Republic of Lithuania: a new Member State of the European Union in the Neighbourhood Context” on 29 June Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas indicated that while  developing relations with Russia, it was necessary to take the attitude that cooperation with Russia was useful and needed both for Lithuania and for the European Union.

“Lithuania speaks for the development of the EU strategic partnership with Russia. However, the strategic partnership with Russia has to be really strategic, involving all the principles that are appropriate to such partnership,” stressed Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

According to Minister P.Vaitiekūnas, we shall be able to receive the maximum benefit of such cooperation, if Russia becomes a democratic country with transparent market relations dominating there.

The Head of Lithuanian diplomacy indicated that up to now the EU’s strategic partnership policy towards Russia was not sufficiently effective and did not give expected results, due to the lack of common strategic opinion of the EU and Russia on the most important political, economic and international issues.

Speaking about the energy dialogue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Lithuania wanted and was able to establish useful mutual partnership with Russia in the area of energy. If Russia’s energy sector were more open, competitive and had more international partners from the West, there would be no questions about Russia’s reliability in providing energy resources.

“One of the main conditions for the success of a long term EU-Russia energy dialogue is to guarantee the reliability of energy supply,” said Minister P.Vaitkiekūnas.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also indicated that the EU should take a more active part in the common European and Russian neighbourhood and remain as an example of good practice and even an impetus of reforms on the international stage.

“The door to the European Union cannot be shut, whereas the spread of European values and principles increases stability and security,” said Minister. “It is especially important to establish clear European Union strategy towards Eastern European countries. In this area Lithuanian foreign policy is especially active and Lithuanian input is appreciated”.

The EU countries, according to P.Vaitiekūnas, should talk with Russia with one voice. In order that new quality and dynamics would emerge in the relations between the EU and Russia, it is important to start negotiating the new EU-Russia Partnership and cooperation agreement.

The forum was held by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation , which is a non-profit international organisation mainly aiming at the promotion of relations and cooperation among political and business leaders from Europe, Latin America and and the USA. The Foundation organizes specialised forums, which focus on the most important political issues and allows business and political leaders to discuss openly, as well as exchange their opinions.