Dear Mr Chairman,
Fellow Parliamentarians,
I am honoured and pleased to be paying a visit to your hospitable country and to address such a high audience. I want to thank Chairman Marian Lupu very much for inviting me and offering me to address your Parliament.
Despite a considerable geographic distance between Lithuania and Moldova, our historic ties are close. They were established seven hundred years ago and strengthened in the battlefield of Grűnwald in 1410 where Moldovan people were fighting hand in hand with Lithuanians and Poles against the Crusaders. The relations persisted through ages.
The Supreme Council of Moldova took a decision to recognise the re-established independent state of Lithuania in May 1990 hence extended its hand of support during Lithuania’s economic blockade. We have not forgotten it of course the more so that we realise what expressing solidarity with the disobedient republic meant bearing in mind that you still were within the Soviet Union. That was the expression of our both nations’ aspiration to freedom. Our countries have a common goal again – we aspire to belong to the open, safe and democratic world where all states, large and small, are equal, where human rights and freedoms are respected, and where creative thought has all possibilities of extensive development.
Lithuania’s membership of the EU and NATO affords us new opportunities to develop good bilateral relations with Moldova and to promote economic and cultural ties. I think I am right when I am saying that our nations understand each other therefore it is easy to establish a dialogue and we are happy to visit each other. Lithuanian businessmen have been actively investing in foreign countries and looking for new opportunities. Moldova is a potentially interesting market to the Lithuanian business. What they need is more information about your investment environment. On the other hand, I see lots of unused business opportunities, and neither side is satisfied with such a situation. We must work in a cooperative manner to change it. Beside the contacts that we nurture already, the Lithuanian parliament is keen on developing parliamentary ties too. I am happy to note the intensifying character of the dialogue between our inter-parliamentary cooperation groups and the exchange of visits.
We know your strategic goal is membership of the European Union and you can count on our strong support. We are ready to speak not only words but also deeds to substantiate it. May I assure you from this rostrum that Lithuania is Moldova’s partner who consistently reminds the European Union of Moldova’s problems and tries to find ways of solving them.
The key to Moldova’s rapprochement with the EU lies in your country - you must put every effort into full and timely implementation of the EU Moldova Action Plan and transparent absorption of EU financial support. This is not as easy as it seems. We know this from our own experience. What is needed to improve the situation in mass media and human rights and to fight against corruption is not large financial resources but political will.
Moldova has just finished the process of local elections. We are happy to note that international observers recognise the second round of the elections meet international standards to a large extent. The municipal elections were an important democracy test, and their outcome is significant to Moldova on its European way. Together we must look for new ways of enhancing your post- Partnership and Cooperation Agreement relations with the EU after 2008. What you need to do first is make sure that democratic institutions root in your country.
Dear Mr Chairman,
Moldova is following the road of hard but inevitable economic and social reforms. I will draw on my experience again – they are worthwhile making, because sooner or later they will bear the expected fruit. We believe that your consistent reforms will bring Moldova closer to the EU, and the Council of Europe will sooner conclude its monitoring procedure.
Lithuania, with its experts and knowledge, wants to offer Moldova its effective assistance – exactly what we got from the Nordic European countries at some point. Realising its role in the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Parliament of Lithuania has set up the Parliamentary Cooperation Centre and tasked it with creating the best possible conditions for parliamentary experience exchange between Ukraine, Moldova, the South Caucasus countries and Lithuania and other EU members. A strong parliament, party culture and traditions are the cornerstones of a democratic state. These things don’t happen overnight, they are the result of a long development process whereto, we hope, the new Parliamentary Cooperation Centre will make a useful contribution. We will take maximum note of Moldova’s and other participating states’ priorities when we draft its action programme.
We welcome Moldova’s progress towards EU autonomous trade preferences, which should facilitate Moldova’s export westwards and consequently accelerate its economic development. In our view the growing bilateral trade implies closer, mutually beneficial ties between Moldova and the EU. And that is a significant factor in reaching your strategic target.
Direct contacts with EU citizens and business should be another important impetus to your progress, which is possible by creating favourable terms of travel to the EU. That is why we welcome the visa facilitation and readmission agreements between the EU and Moldova initialled on the 25th of April. We are convinced the agreements will be approved, come into force in time, and leave the European Union door more open to Moldova citizens. We note with satisfaction the opening of the Common Visa Application Centre in Chisinau.
Dear Members of the Moldova Parliament,
Lithuania is a strong supporter of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Like the EU as a whole we are for a dialogue, open and clear to EU partners, between the interested parties. We expect multilateral talks on the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict to reopen and result in constructive solutions. I can assure you that consistent efforts are being put into attaining this goal since the Transdniestria case is a pending item on the EU agenda.
Lithuania is convinced that Russia must fully fulfil its Istanbul commitments and withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Moldova. Our European and trans-Atlantic partners are of the same opinion. Peacekeeping must be internationalised in Moldova, and the mission there must comply with the international peacekeeping principles. We are for durable solutions to be found for the future.
In its attempt to draw more EU attention to Moldova and the regional problems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania suggests that Chisinau host an informal international seminar on the future of the region. Let me add a personal remark that meetings of the kind where internationally renowned politicians and diplomats meet are routine in Lithuania. Routine as they are, they offer possibilities to the hosts to introduce their country to the delegates as well as put the country into the context of an ongoing international dialogue and a decision-making process. And I think this is exactly what you are interested in.
Now let me continue by underlining the importance of regional cooperation for Moldova’s EU integration. Regional cooperation promotes trust between neighbouring countries and gives better chance for states to pursue their interests, which is clearly demonstrated by fruitful cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine in their border control.
Therefore we welcome Moldova’s engagement in GUAM Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development, the Community of Democratic Choice, and the Organisation of Black Sea Economic Cooperation. We believe that the new initiative of the European Commission, the Black Sea Synergy, designed to enhance cooperation between the Black Sea region and the European Union is particularly important and welcome. It is noteworthy that the initiative provides for drawing upon the experience accumulated from the Northern Dimension partnership and joint programme funding. The Black Sea Synergy initiative should be an efficient supplement to the currently existing cooperation formats and promote stability and development in the region.
I would like to conclude by saying that the state of Moldova and its people will still be put to numerous tests. However clear goals and consistent endeavours made jointly with your friends, supportive and assisting, will lead Moldova to its goal, that is, will bring you back to the family of European nations. I wish you success in reaching your goal as quickly as possible.
Thanks for your attention.
