Press release, 4 November 2015
Photo of the Seimas Office (author Olga Posaškova)
Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, and the delegation under his leadership during their official visit to Lithuania. The Speaker of the Seimas welcomed the vigorous parliamentary dialogue between the two countries and the transfer of experience in the areas of democratic reform and European integration.
During the meeting, it was pointed out that Lithuania supported Georgia and was ready to help the country in its efforts towards speedier European and Euro-Atlantic integration. According to Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, Georgia has made tremendous advances and it is essential to continue the work in progress.
The Speaker of the Seimas highlighted that Lithuania had implemented over 150 bilateral development cooperation projects in the areas of social life, healthcare, agriculture, and institutional capacity building in Georgia over the past ten years. The meeting participants went on to explore the opportunities to invigorate the development of common economic, cultural and educational projects, with a special emphasis on education and innovation.
The Speaker of the Seimas also stressed the importance of including active support to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine into the scope of Eastern Partnership policy as part of the EU Global Strategy on foreign and security policy. Regarding the issue of visas for Georgian citizens wishing to travel to the EU Member States, the Speaker of the Seimas noted that this issue should not be overshadowed by the refugee problems and other matters that were currently being dealt with in the European Union.
During the meeting, it was noted that, while on track to European integration, Georgia should not lose sight of human rights and the freedom of speech, which are an integral part of democratic values and principles.
Rosvaldas Gorbačiovas, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6005, mob. +370 698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]
