17 February
Speaker of the Seimas Arūnas Valinskas received Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia David Bakradze.
Mr. Valinskas thanked David Bakradze for paying a symbolic visit to Lithuania on 16 February and providing an opportunity to discuss the issues of mutual concern.
The Speaker of the Seimas handed over a formal letter to the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia. The letter provided information on the Group for Interparliamentary Relations with Georgia, headed by MP Petras Luomanas and formed in the Seimas a few days ago.
The Speaker of the Seimas noted that the relations between Lithuania and Georgia were becoming increasingly closer and their quality definitely amounted to that of a strategic partnership.
The political relations between our countries have always been close, yet I am mostly pleased at the fact that the contacts and cooperation between Lithuanian and Georgian entrepreneurs are improving more actively. I believe that it is high time the door for an even broader bilateral cooperation was opened. The delegation of entrepreneurs which is going to pay a visit to Georgia together with me will bring not only their experience but specific proposals as well, said the Speaker of the Seimas.
Mr. Valinskas is going to pay a visit to Georgia together with the delegation of Seimas members and entrepreneurs at the beginning of March.
The Speaker of the Seimas pointed out that Lithuania supported the territorial integrity of Georgia alongside with the member states of the European Union and NATO and did not recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to Mr. Valinskas, Lithuania also supported Georgias efforts to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures and encouraged making a maximum use of the possibilities provided by the EUs Eastern Partnership.
The major and only key to solving the conflicts in the territory of Georgia and integrating into the EU and NATO is democratic and safe Georgia prospering in all areas, said Mr. Valinskas.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia pointed out that Lithuanias Independence and success was of great importance to Georgia.
You are like a signpost, a model of development and advance in the area of European democracy both in political and practical sense. I believe that an increasingly active economic cooperation will be mutually beneficial as closing of the market would be a great mistake under the difficult circumstances we are currently facing, Mr. Bakradze noted.
Mr. Valinskas also rejoiced at the cultural relations with Georgia which were increasingly strengthening, in particular, at the exhibition of the paintings by Niko Pirosmani, a great Georgian painter, which was successfully organised after many years of efforts.
Afterwards, the Heads of Lithuanian and Georgian Parliaments had an opportunity for a conversation at the dinner hosted by Mr. Valinskas.
Indrė Viržintė, Spokesperson of the Seimas Speaker
