Press release, 18
July 2014
The Speaker of the Seimas, Loreta Graužinienė,
invited the heads of Lithuania’s diplomatic representations to a working
breakfast where relevant foreign policy matters and respective challenges were
discussed. The diplomats shared their views on the achievements, problems and future
plans. The Speaker called on the diplomats to make full use of diplomatic
leverage while representing our country.
“I would appreciate your being aware of the
existence of one more instrument that can be used in attaining common foreign
policy goals, i.e., parliamentary diplomacy. I therefore invite you to properly
exploit this instrument, where appropriate, and to remember that the Seimas and
its leaders are open to your proposals and initiatives,” said the Speaker this
morning during the working breakfast with the Lithuanian diplomats who had gathered
to their annual meeting in Vilnius.
In her speech the Speaker of the Seimas
highlighted the importance of the cooperation between diplomacy and business, scope
for parliamentary diplomacy and shared her views on regional security issues
and the situation in Ukraine.
“Solidarity is what the Ukrainian people need
today. To avoid even more painful consequences, we all – diplomats,
politicians, the military and even businessmen – need to act together. We have
to be dynamic – not only respond to the consequences but also seek to prevent
them,” said the Speaker.
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Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas |
The leader of the Parliament noted with
satisfaction that Lithuania was among the first EU member states to ratify the agreements
with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova and stressed that Lithuanian political
parties practically always managed to reach a consensus on essential defence
and foreign policy matters.
“I appreciate the fact that business promotion
and search for new markets have received a great deal of attention in the
current Government Programme. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius, also
attaches special importance to the accomplishment of these goals. The Minister
has repeatedly emphasised that all the government institutions, Parliament
included, should be involved in economic diplomacy,” said the Speaker.
The leader of the Seimas also thanked all the
Lithuanian diplomats for their hard work that was not always really visible.
Secretariat of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6002
Dalia Valentienė, Adviser
to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+ 370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42 786
