News

On 23 April Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas in the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting in Luxembourg discussed the EU Strategy for Central Asia.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas supported the strategy in essentials indicating that this region should not be treated mechanically. According to the Minister, it is necessary to identify priorities of bilateral cooperation with all Central Asian countries regarding particularities of each country and regional peculiarities.

Discussing the upcoming EU-USA Summit, P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that it was necessary to make use of the transatlantic cooperation strengthening the energy security.

“We would welcome the establishment of the mechanism of regular consultations on the issues of energy security. We expect that the high-level dialogue between the EU and the USA on energy security and climate change or another structure shall be used for this purpose,” said the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

Before the GAERC meeting, during the breakfast of Nordic and Baltic countries (NB6), the Ministers of Foreign Affairs welcomed Lithuanian initiative to organize NB6 meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers with five Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Central Asian countries during the United Nations General Assembly in September, in New York. During the meeting cooperation development possibilities would be discussed.

During a bilateral meeting P.Vaitiekūnas and Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis discussed issues related to the Central Asia and energy. Ministers agreed to prepare for the joint presidency over the EU in 2013-2014, adjusting the positions of Lithuania and Greece concerning crucial foreign policy issues. This will be the main issue on the agenda of the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs’ visit to the Hellenic Republic this summer.