18 June 2010
Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas has met with Mr Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
During the meeting, the Speaker spoke of Lithuanias plans to hold a meeting of the Trilateral Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine in October 2010 and proposed the subjects for debate. We think that the Assembly will offer a good opportunity to cover the Central and East European energy security problems and jointly search for ways to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union, Mrs Degutienė stated.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomed the proposal and noted that in view of the approaching winter, the energy issue will be particularly relevant.
As regards strengthening of bilateral economic ties, the Speaker noted that Lithuanias foreign trade with Ukraine suffered a particularly sharp decline last year. We have to take all the necessary measures to enable recovery of the bilateral economic relations. A safe environment for investment and prevention of unjustified trade-limiting measures are of key importance, Mrs Degutienė emphasised.
The Speaker of the Seimas also highlighted that Ukraine continues to be Lithuanias strategic partner. She urged the country to carry out all the reforms necessary for its rapprochement with the EU and for achieving convergence with the EU standards.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas
