Press release, 4 March 2013
Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with H.E. Ms Deborah Ann McCarthy, US Ambassador to Lithuania, and discussed bilateral relations, economic issues and energy security.
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Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with H.E. Ms Deborah Ann McCarthy, US Ambassador to Lithuania. Photography by Olga Posaškova |
During the meeting, the Speaker underlined that the USA had always been Lithuania’s key strategic partner, which facilitated the restoration of the country’s independence and integration into Western democratic structures, and which continues to be our major ally within NATO.
“Commending the successful cooperation between the USA and Lithuania in the areas of security, foreign policy and energy security, we hope for closer bilateral cooperation through the development of mutually beneficial energy, trade, investment, research and cultural exchange programmes”, Vydas Gedvilas noted pointing out that the new legislature of the Seimas was working to ensure the continuity of foreign policy.
According to the Speaker of the Parliament, the negotiations on the comprehensive free trade agreement will start before Lithuania takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Once in place, the agreement will open new opportunities for contacts and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Speaker of the Seimas commended the increasing parliamentary cooperation between the US Congress and the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Speaker of the Parliament took the occasion to speak about the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and Lithuania’s Presidency priorities. Vydas Gedvilas put a special emphasis on energy security, which is important in ensuring the welfare of the whole country. He outlined the key measures aimed at achieving the goal, including the power links with Sweden and Poland, the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal and the promotion of alternative energy resources. The Speaker of the Seimas and the US Ambassador to Lithuania Deborah Ann McCarthy agreed that both countries could share their experience in the field.
Rimas Rudaitis, Public Relations Unit, tel:+370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]
