Press release, 19 September 2013
Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, who is paying a working visit to the United States of America, met with Senator Richard Durbin, Deputy Senate Majority Leader of Lithuanian origin, and Co-Chairs of the House Baltic Caucus, Members of the Congress: John Shimkus, who has his roots in Lithuania, and Adam Shiff.
The Speaker of the Seimas stated that the US politicians were closely following the developments in Lithuania and the region. “All of them were inquiring about the pressure from the Russian side currently experienced both by Lithuania and the Eastern countries seeking EU membership“, Mr Gedvilas said.
The Head of the Seimas explained that Lithuania is undertaking steps in order to defend not only its own interests but also those of the whole EU. “I noted that not only heads of state and relevant institutions but also the European Commission responded to the situation. I hope that the joint efforts will bring results and that this will happen in the immediate future,” Mr Gedvilas stated.
The issues relevant to Lithuania and the US in the fields of energy, defence and business promotion were also discussed at the meeting. The Speaker of the Seimas acquainted the US politicians with the agenda of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and invited Senator Durbin to visit Lithuania before the expiration of our Presidency period.
Senator Durbin shared his view that Lithuania needs to further consistently seek energy independence and diversify energy sources, and he promised every kind of support to our country.
Tomas Beržinskas, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 239 6019, mob. +370 698 42 786
e-mail: [email protected]
