4 March
On 4 March, the Speaker
of the Seimas met with Speaker of the Georgian Parliament David Bakradze, who has recently visited Lithuania, and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gregorij Vašadze and thus started his
official visit to Georgia.
“Lithuania and
Georgia share common understanding of the past, values, objectives and a vision
for the future. Lithuania will continue supporting Georgia’s movement towards
the Euro-Atlantic integration. We have always supported Georgia’s territorial
integrity,” Arūnas Valinskas stated during the meetings with the heads of the Georgian
Parliament and the diplomacy. The Head of the Lithuanian Parliament urged
Georgia to continue carrying out and strengthening the political and economic
reforms in the country to a yet greater extent.
Major political, economic and security issues, as well as prospects
for cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia were discussed at the Parliament
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas noted with satisfaction
that the interparliamentary relations between Lithuania and Georgia have been
actively developed, and the fact that a Group for Interparliamentary Relations
with Georgia has already been formed at the Seimas of this term of office.
Arūnas Valinskas highlighted that Lithuania will continue sharing its
experience in reforms, and it is prepared to increase cooperation in various
international forums.
The Head of the Parliament noted that the potential for the
relations between Lithuania and Georgia in the sphere of economy and trade that
can be mutually beneficial has not been fully exploited. According to Mr.
Valinskas, Lithuania is willing to more actively cooperate with Georgia in the
formation of the international corridor Traceca, and emphasised the significance of a container train “Viking”.
During the meetings the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas
drew serious attention to culture. He suggested giving a new impetus to the
bilateral cultural cooperation. Arūnas Valinskas welcomed the fact that the
painting exhibition of Niko Pirosmani has been brought to Lithuania and
emphasised that this should be a stepping stone towards the development of
bilateral cultural cooperation.
On 4 March the Head of the Parliament also attended
the opening ceremony of the Lithuanian bakery. Arūnas Valinskas welcomed the
initiative of the Lithuanian entrepreneurs to set up a company in Georgia that
would cherish Lithuanian traditions. The Speaker of the Seimas also welcomed
the fact that the owners of the bakery are carrying out a social project, i.e.
they offered three positions to the persons who fell victims to political –
ethnical conflicts.
Indrė Viržintė, Spokesperson of the Seimas Speaker
