Press release, 16 April 2014
Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with US Senators John McCain, John Barrasso, John Hoeven and Ron Johnson on their visit to Lithuania.
The Speaker of the Seimas thanked the US Senators for the US support to the Baltic states, Poland and all Eastern Partnership countries in the face of Russia’s aggression. “Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has undermined security all over Europe. It is indispensable for Allies to pass on the message about Russia’s violations of international law and to send a clear signal of their firm support to the countries in the region. In this context, appropriate information response to the large-scale propaganda campaign waged by Russia is of paramount importance,” the Speaker said.
Senator McCain emphasised not only the complex situation in Ukraine, but also potential threats to Moldova. He stressed that the international community should send a strong united message to Vladimir Putin. According to the Senator, NATO should hold more military exercises and intensify military cooperation.
The Speaker of the Seimas underlined that Lithuania also saw potential risks to Moldova and Georgia. “We have to make concerted effort to support Moldova and Georgia, especially in the light of the approaching signature of the Association Agreement this summer. I will go to Moldova with the Speakers of NB8 parliaments next month and we will have an opportunity to practically assess the situation and the threats to one of the Eastern Partnership countries,” Loreta Graužinienė noted.
During the meeting, Loreta Graužinienė and the US Senators discussed energy security matters. “Both Lithuania and the European Union Member States are dependent on energy imports from Russia. I therefore believe that export of liquefied natural gas from the US in large volumes and at a competitive price could have a positive impact on the developments in Eastern Europe. I would kindly ask you, Honourable Senators, for your personal support in the United States for adopting decisions regarding LNG export to Europe and, of course, to Lithuania,” the Speaker of the Seimas said.
The Speaker also drew attention to Russia’s actions with regard to restrictions on meat exports from Lithuania and went on to say, “Russia uses a ban on imports of meat products as a political instrument against Lithuania and the European Union. We therefore hope that all the procedures related to equivalence audit of the official meet control system will soon be completed and that, with your assistance, the US will allow meat exports from Lithuania to the United States of America.”
The meeting with the US Senators was also attended by Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs; Petras Auštrevičius, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs; Benediktas Juodka, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Artūras Paulauskas, Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence; Emanuelis Zingeris, Chair of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the United States of America; and Andrius Kubilius, Leader of Opposition of the Seimas.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 85 239 6002
Dalia Valentienė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 85 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42 786
