Press release, 4 March 2015
During her working visit to Brussels, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Christine Defraigne, President of the Senate of Belgium. The bilateral cooperation, the geopolitical situation in the region, the Eastern Partnership issues and growing threats of terrorism were among the subjects discussed in the meeting.
“Both terrorism and the issue of Ukraine have to be tackled in parallel. The latest events demonstrate that human rights matters must be given priority. We have shared the same view with the President of the Belgian Senate in that Europe must speak with one voice and stay strong and in solidarity when addressing geopolitically crucial matters,” the Speaker said.
Mrs Graužinienė drew the attention of the President of the Belgium Senate to the recurring problem related to the issuance of personal documents to Lithuanians which indicate the Soviet Union, instead of Lithuania, as their place of birth. The President of the Senate pledged to look into the matter with the Belgian minister of foreign affairs.
Mrs Graužininė was pleased to note that the parliamentary relations between Belgium and Lithuania had been growing stronger, and she invited Ms Defraigne to pay a visit to Lithuania.
The Speaker of the Seimas also visited the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium where she met with Siegfried Bracke, President of the House of Representatives. They agreed to continue the active cooperation in the areas of politics, economics and security. Mrs Graužinienė also extended an invitation to him to pay a visit to Lithuania.
In the afternoon, the Speaker of the Seimas and the Lithuanian community in Belgium gathered to Solidarity Square in front of the European Parliament to mark the 25th anniversary of the reforestation of Lithuania’s independence. The Speaker of the Seimas was pleased to see a unified Lithuanian community and extended her congratulations to the people on the upcoming celebration of particular significance for Lithuania.
In the evening, Mrs Graužinienė met with Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, and took part in the solemn celebration of the 25th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence in the European Parliament.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6002
Neringa Mikėnaitė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6344, mob. +370 698 42759
