Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, who is visiting the United States of America together with the delegation, opened an interactive UNESCO exhibition Lithuania in the Mail Parcel at the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington to mark the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“It is difficult to briefly describe the progress and achievements accomplished by Lithuania in 23 years of its independence. I am extremely happy and proud that our country, after having restored and preserved its independence, has chosen to promote democracy, build civil society, foster its culture and heritage and follow the path of the European Integration,” Mr Gedvilas said.
In the words of the Speaker, the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is another important historical event which will significantly contribute to the history of our state. Moreover, Lithuania is the first among the Baltic States trusted with this responsible mission.
By becoming a Member of the EU Lithuania became a donor country. Our support to the Eastern Partnership countries primarily to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, is truly valuable and highly appreciated. We want and seek to see our neighbours as western, secure and modern states, therefore Lithuania has served as “the centre of excellence” of parliamentary democracy for several years already: together with its partners Lithuania is engaged in the implementation of a special programme and shares its experience in democratic reforms with the Eastern Partnership countries”, said Mr Gedvilas.
The Speaker of the Seimas expressed his hope that the achievements of cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries will be assessed and further guidelines of the Eastern Partnership Policy be drawn during the Eastern Partnership Summit on 28-29 November 2013 in Vilnius.
Tomas Beržinskas, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6019, mob. +370 698 42 786, e-mail: [email protected]
