2010 

Press release, 24 May 2010 

 

During her official visit to Georgia, Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Mr Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia. They focused on strategic security issues, the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, the current relations and the prospects of further cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia, as well as relations with the European Union.      

 

The Speaker of the Seimas conveyed the congratulations of Lithuania’s people to the President of Georgia on the occasion of the forthcoming Independence Day. “Let me assure you that Lithuania’s foreign policy has remained unchanged over the twenty years. However, most importantly, politicians are not alone to support Georgia. Ordinary people of Lithuania favour and sympathise with the Georgian nation too. This is much more significant than mere political support,” Mrs Degutienė noted recalling the numerous events in support of Georgia that drew crowds of people in Lithuania.

 

The Georgian President underlined that his country was extremely delighted to feel the support. He added that the worst scenario one could ever imagine is that one day the Georgian nation would realise that it is left on its own.

 

According to Mrs Degutienė, at the moment it is necessary to enhance business relations between Lithuania and Georgia and Georgia should put more efforts to concluding Free Trade Agreements with the European Union. “It would make a key contribution to the strengthening of relations between Georgia and other democracies, as well as promote modernisation and necessary reforms in Georgia,” said the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas.  

 

An idea to organise in Georgia a forum of the Community of Democracies, which is currently chaired by Lithuania, was put forward during the meeting. President Saakashvili backed the proposal and noted that Georgia attached great importance to the ideas and activities of the Community of Democracies. Moreover, the Georgian President expressed his hopes that the Lithuanian Parliament would soon consider and adopt a resolution in support of the territorial integrity of Georgia, which would be particularly significant to Georgia and its entire nation.

 

As regards the EU and US policy vis-à-vis Russia, it was acknowledged that the situation in Russia is often given a better evaluation than it really deserves. “The West should not be deceived by the claims that Russia has changed. Russia has not changed even though much effort is put to convince Western politicians of the opposite. Please show me any specific changes in Russia. Nobody can give me any concrete examples,” Mr Saakashvili argued.     

 

Juozas Ruzgys, Spokesperson to the Speaker of the Seimas