Press release, 2 May 2016
Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)
On 2 May 2016, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Maria Koc, Deputy Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the delegation under her leadership. The meeting focused on inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, joint international projects, security issues and other relevant matters.
The Speaker emphasised the need to ensure sustained functioning of the Assembly of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, established almost 20 years ago.
“I talked about it with Marek Kuchciński, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, during my official visit to Poznan in April. Today, I should like to confirm to you once again that we are looking forward to the formation of the Polish Sejm and Senate delegation to the bilateral assembly of the Lithuanian Seimas and the Polish Sejm and Senate for the sake of our parliamentary meetings and exchanges on relevant matters. We are open to the debate on various relevant issues, including education and the situation of ethnic minorities in our countries. There is a need for greater cooperation between the parliaments and between the governments of the two countries in order to find out what the real situation both in Lithuania and Poland is,” the Speaker of the Seimas noted.
Moreover, the meeting touched upon the trilateral assembly of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to be held in Kiev at the end of May. The Speaker of the Seimas stressed the importance of support for Ukraine. “It is essential for us to continue the work we have been engaged in for several years now in assisting Ukraine on multiple parliamentary formats,” Mrs Graužinienė underlined.
In addition, the Speaker of the Seimas and the Deputy Marshal of the Senate discussed cooperation in the area of security and defence. Mrs Graužinienė was convinced that security and defence cooperation with Poland was high on the political agenda in Lithuania. “We are happy about the current positive dynamics of bilateral relations in the area of security. We are also delighted that, apart from engaging in old cooperation formats, new ones are being developed. We truly appreciate Poland’s contribution to the strengthening of security in Lithuania. Poland is among the most active participants of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuania,” the Speaker of the Seimas said.
The Speaker expressed her appreciation of the bilateral strategic projects in energy and transport infrastructure that are being successfully developed. Mrs Graužinienė stressed that they served as a perfect example of how two countries could implement projects of European significance.
In the evening, the Speaker of the Seimas and the Deputy Marshal of the Senate participated in the commemoration in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania marking the 225th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May 1791. Mrs Graužinienė considers that, bearing in mind our common historical past, it is necessary to take a positive approach towards the future. “May the ability of our ancestors to reach an agreement be always present in mutual relations between our nations and our states, as well as in our joint endeavours!” the Speaker of the Seimas emphasised.
Rosvaldas Gorbačiovas, Senior Adviser to the Speaker, tel. +370 5 239 6005, mob. +370 698 42 071, e-mail: rosvaldas.gorbaciovas@lrs.lt
