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Vice-Minister Plepytė: Lithuania and the United States are united by strong security ties and shared support for freedom

On 29-30 April in Washington, D.C., the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Audra Plepytė met with Viviana Bovo, Senior Adviser for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State, Riley M. Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State, Carlos Giménez, Member of the House of Representatives, Maria Corina Machado, leader of the Venezuelan opposition, and Damon Wilson, President of the National Endowment for Democracy.

On 29-30 April in Washington, D.C., the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Audra Plepytė met with Viviana Bovo, Senior Adviser for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at  the United States Department of State, Riley M. Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State, Carlos Giménez, Member of the House of Representatives, Maria Corina Machado, leader of the Venezuelan opposition, and Damon Wilson, President of the National Endowment for Democracy.

The meetings with the representatives of the U.S. Department of State, Bovo, and Barnes focused on democracy development cooperation, Lithuania's desire to continue to contribute meaningfully to international efforts against authoritarian regimes both in Eastern Europe and in the Western Hemisphere. Lithuania's continued support for democratic movements and U.S. efforts to free political prisoners, ensure human rights, freedoms, and economic prosperity were also discussed.

“Lithuania, having successfully transitioned  to a democracy, aims to share its unique experience and help countries willing to follow this path: building strong democratic institutions, moving towards a market economy and fostering a resilient democratic society", said Vice-Minister Plepytė.

This experience was also discussed with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado. The Vice-Minister underlined that Lithuania had not recognised the regime of former President Nicolás Maduro since 2019 and condemned the regime's support for Russia's war against Ukraine and cooperation with Iran and Cuba. The Vice-Minister underlined the importance of Venezuela's peaceful return to democracy, based on the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed in free and fair elections.

In the U.S. Congress, the Vice-Minister discussed the importance of consistent pressure on the Cuban regime with Giménez, the U.S. Representative for Florida, representing a portion of Miami-Dade County, who thanked Lithuania for its firm stance on the issue. The Vice-Minister thanked the Congressman for his consistent stance on supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the aggressor, Russia.