6 January
Speaker of the Seimas Arūnas Valinskas received Georgian MP, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Relations Georgi Kandelaki.
The Speaker of the Seimas emphasised the importance of close bilateral relations between Lithuania and Georgia and pointed out that Lithuania and our nation, who supported Georgia during the hardest period in August 2008, were going to further pursue the policy of consolidating relations.
Mr. Valinskas confirmed Lithuanias position concerning Georgias territorial integrity and support for Euro-Atlantic integration of the country.
Lithuania supports Georgias territorial integrity and indivisibility, and does not recognise independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. These territories are integral parts of Georgia. Concerning this issue, we are a trumpet for Georgia in meetings with the representatives of other countries. In the same open and firm manner we support Georgias objectives to become a member of the EU and NATO, the Speaker of the Seimas stated.
The problems of returning of Georgias refugees and ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia and Abkhazia were also touched upon in the meeting.
When discussing bilateral relations, the Head of the Lithuanian Parliament positively commented on more intensive economic cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia. Over the first ten months of 2008, foreign trade increased by 50 per cent, and Lithuanias export to Georgia from January to October 2008 grew by more than 60 per cent, as compared to the same period in 2007. According to Mr. Valinskas, it is a very suitable time for Lithuanian entrepreneurs to invest in Georgias infrastructure, the construction market and energy sector, and take part in public procurement of the country. In the opinion of the Seimas Speaker, a great role in bilateral economic relations is played by commodity transit.
I believe that visits of the heads of Lithuanian and Georgian parliaments accompanied by business delegations could be a good signal for both intergovernmental and economic cooperation. I would like to invite Speaker of the Georgian Parliament David Bakradze to pay the first visit to Lithuania in the near future, Mr. Valinskas said.
Indrė Viržintė, Spokesperson of the Seimas Speaker
