Linkevicius: Lithuania Pledges to Support Georgia
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, October 25
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius says his country firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledges to support it.
Linkevicius made the statement at the joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart David Zalkaliani, who is paying an official visit to Lithuania.
“We condemn Russia’s aggressive policy against Georgia and its military build-up in the occupied territories. We support Georgia within the international organizations,” Lithuanian FM said.
He also praised Georgia’s progress on the European and Euro-Atlantic integration path, adding “Georgia has its own plan and vision, a so-called roadmap outlining its steps towards the European Union.”
Linkevicius noted Georgia is one of the top contributors to the global security.
“With its 900 troops, Georgia is one of the largest contributors to NATO missions. It is highly important that the Georgian population shares the values of NATO and aspires to join the Alliance,” he added.
Moreover, within the framework of the Georgian delegation’s visit to Lithuania, a protocol of the 5th meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission on Euro-Atlantic Integration was signed by Zalkaliani and Linkevicius.
According to the Protocol, the participants of the meeting discussed a broad spectrum of co-operation between Georgia and the EU. Special attention was paid to the commitment to promote further the deepening of relations between Georgia and the EU, particularly by taking advantage of all opportunities and prospects provided by the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as the Eastern Partnership policy in general.
In addition, the parties welcomed the recent trade ministerial meeting of three associated partners and the EU, and agreed to continue their joint efforts in this area, making this format fully operational (with regular meetings, covering also political and sectorial parts of the Association Agreements) as soon as possible.
Georgian Foreign Ministry reports that according to the document, “Lithuania and Georgia looked forward to the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership and welcomed the significant results achieved so far.”
The Georgian Delegation reaffirmed Georgia’s determination to achieve NATO membership, which is a top foreign policy priority for Georgia, and reiterated Georgia’s commitment to continue comprehensive reforms across the areas set out in the Annual National Programme.
The Georgian Delegation expressed its gratitude for Lithuania’s valuable efforts in promoting Georgia’s NATO membership and for Lithuania’s contribution to the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.
