Press release, 30 June 2016
Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Džoja Barysaitė)
The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine awarded the 1st Class Badge of Honour to Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, for her outstanding merits in developing strategic cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine and contribution to security policy. The award was presented by Oleksandr Turchynov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.
At the meeting with Mr Turchynov, the Seimas delegation also discussed the significance of the ongoing reforms, the progress achieved in Ukraine, the processes of European integration as well as the preparations for the NATO Summit.
Mr Turchynov informed members of the delegation about the “worsening situation in Russia’s aggression zone in eastern Ukraine. In the month of May alone, 23 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 90 wounded in the conflict zone. Russia is not a third party but, in fact, a direct participant of the conflict,” argued the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, stressing that the question of sanctions against Russia could not be separated from Crimea’s occupation.
Mrs Graužinienė highlighted the necessity to step up efforts of Ukraine’s friends in creating peace, restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and mobilising an international coalition to support the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
Neringa Mikėnaitė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6344, mob. +370 698 42 759, e-mail: [email protected]
