Press release, 8 April 2013
During the first
Summit of the Speakers of Parliaments of the Union for the Mediterranean in
Marseille (France), Vydas Gedvilas,
the Speaker of the Seimas, expressed his support to southern
Mediterranean countries striving for democratic development. On the eve of the
Summit Mr Gedvilas together with fifteen hundred participants,
representatives of NGOs, youth activists, artists and politicians, including
representatives from Lithuania, took part in Anna Lindh
Mediterranean Forum, which aims at promoting cultural dialogue between the Mediterranean
and EU NGOs*. The Speaker of the Seimas says, this kind of cooperation creates a wonderful opportunity
to know southern Mediterranean countries while politicians have to facilitate cultural
dialogue. The participants of the Forum presented the Parliament Speakers with
proposals which will form the basis for further recommendations for national
authorities.
At the Speakers’ meeting,
the Speaker of the Seimas stated that Lithuania recognized
the importance of cooperation with southern Mediterranean countries and was
ready to share its experience of democratic development. Mr Gedvilas stressed one of the objectives of the Lithuanian
Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is to strengthen European
Neighbourhood Policy by focusing on cooperation between the EU and its eastern
and southern neighbours and on supporting their economic, social and political
reforms.
“The Lithuanian
Presidency will support EU’s efforts in the Southern Neighbourhood in order to
implement the European Neighbourhood Policy more effectively for the promotion
of stronger democracy, integrated and sustainable
growth based on respect for human rights, especially women’s rights and
freedoms and closer cooperation with civil society”, the Speaker of the Seimas said.
The Speakers of
Parliaments of the Union for the Mediterranean unanimously adopted the
declaration which urges national Parliaments of EU Member States and the
European Parliament to prioritise support to countries in transition in order
to build firm and efficient foundation for parliamentary democracy in the
southern and eastern Mediterranean countries.
* Assassinated in 2003, Anna Lindh was a Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs and an
advocate of open diplomacy. The Anna Lindh Mediterranean Forum brings together people of the
Mediterranean, promotes mutual respect for cultures and supports actors of civil
society working for the common future of the region. The Foundation
contributes to the development of culture of Mediterranean countries, issues recommendations to authorities. The
network consists of 42 national
networks and 3 900 organisations.
Artūras Zeleniakas,
Public Relations Unit, tel.: +370 5 239 6201, e-mail:
[email protected]
