Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas, has met with Mr Egemen Bağiş, Minister for European Union Affairs of Turkey. The meeting focused on bilateral relations between Lithuania and Turkey, strengthening of economic cooperation, and Turkeys aspirations to join the European Union.
The Speaker of the Seimas indicated that Lithuania was ready to share its experience with Turkey in implementing European reforms. We welcome the aspirations clearly expressed by the Turkish Government to continue the challenging political and economic reforms necessary for countrys membership of the EU. The Speaker of the Seimas emphasised that economic cooperation between Lithuania and Turkey should be more intensive and not limited to tourism.
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The Turkish Minister for EU Affairs also visited the European Information Office of the Seimas (visit organised by the European Club of the Seimas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania) where he delivered a presentation for Members of the Seimas, diplomats, staff of the Office of the Seimas, and the media on Turkeys EU accession process and responded to questions from the audience. Mr Bağiş observed that having launched its European initiatives back in 1959 and begun its EU membership negotiations in 2005, Turkey was now pursuing reform and had really achieved much. The Minister said that Turkey could make a considerable contribution to fighting the economic and financial crisis in Europe. He also expressed his appreciation that 11 out of 27 EU foreign ministers, including Lithuanias Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, gave their support for Turkeys membership of the EU.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas, telephone: (+370 5) 2396023; e-mail: [email protected]
Public Relations Unit, telephone: (+370 5) 2396508; e-mail: [email protected]
