News

After a working visit in Egypt, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis started his stay in the Syrian Arab Republic. On 8 October, having received the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad noted that Lithuania’s achievements in European integration processes increased the country’s prestige and influence in the world. According to the President, the visit was taking place at the right time, since Syria and the European Union had been negotiating a treaty of association, which would make Syria a member of the regional free trade zone and a more attractive country for Lithuanian business. Both the President of Syria and the Lithuanian Foreign Minister agreed that the time had come for establishing closer economic relations, the basis of which could be bilateral agreements on promotion and protection of investment, also commercial and economic cooperation, which would be useful to sign. The Syrian leader expressed his belief that bilateral, particularly economic relationships with Lithuania would be successfully developed. Minister Valionis acquainted the President with Lithuania’s achievements in negotiations with the European Union, results of Lithuania’s chairmanship in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and cooperation of the Baltic States and States of the Baltic Sea Region. The head of Lithuanian MFA noted that Lithuania supported reforms which had been implemented in Syria after the current President took office in the year 2000. The minister expressed his satisfaction with the tangible results achieved. President Bashar Al-Assad observed that after the events of 11 September in USA, Syria had condemned terrorism and took side of the states fighting against terrorism, particularly actively taking part in operations aimed at implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. In Damascus, Lithuanian Foreign Minister also met with Speaker of the Syrian Parliament Abdul Qaddoura, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shara, Minister of Economics and International Trade Ghassan Rafae. At the business forums in the Syrian Chamber of Industry and Association of Syrian Chamber of Commerce, Minister Valionis spoke about Lithuania’s economic possibilities. A businessmen delegation accompanying the Minister had a separate program. Not only did they participate at the trade forums, but also met with potential partners in Syria, concerning trade possibilities, visited pharmacy and textile plants in Damascus. On 10 October, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Valionis finished his working visit in Syria and arrived in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.