Media release of 16 January 2009
Speaker of the Seimas Arūnas Valinskas received Storting Speaker of the Kingdom of Norway Thorbjørn Jagland who paid an official visit to Lithuania.
During the meeting and official dinner, the heads of parliaments discussed multilateral and bilateral cooperation and the issues of the Council of Europe, European Union, and NATO. Common values and institutions uniting Europe were specifically touched upon.
Concerning the area of bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Norway, successful economic relations were mainly discussed.
They also talked about the European safety and defence architecture and democracy development.
We are grateful to the Norwegian Government for a long-term commitment to support the European Humanities University. We believe that by supporting its activities we contribute to Belarusian integration in Europe, said the Head of the Lithuanian Parliament.
The Seimas Speaker also thanked Norway for its assistance rendered through Norwegian financial instruments and those of the European Economic Area.
Concerning the energy sector, Mr. Valinskas repeated the vital goals of Lithuania integration of the energy sector in the common EU market and reducing dependency on the only external supplier.
I hope that the relations of Lithuania and Norway will continue to be as deep and rich as Norwegian fiords, the Speaker of the Seimas said after the meeting with Mr. Jagland.
Indrė Viržintė, Spokesperson of the Seimas Speaker
