Speaker of the Seimas: at a time of political change in Europe, we cannot allow Ukraine to disappear from the political agenda

Press release, 23 February 2017

Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova) 

 

On 23 February 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi, Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania, to discuss future steps of the Seimas to support Ukraine. The Speaker of the Seimas stressed that Lithuania’s strategic goal is to create security and stability not only internally, but also in the neighbouring countries.

 

“To this end, we need to support Ukraine’s further integration into European structures, the ongoing reforms, and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have to maintain the policy of  international non-recognition of the annexation and occupation of Crimea and support international efforts to settle the military conflict,” said Mr Pranckietis.

 

 

On 16–18 March 2017, the Speaker of the Seimas will take part in the meeting of the Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Rome dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. One of the questions the Speaker will raise at the meeting will be the issue of Ukraine.

 

“We cannot allow Ukraine to disappear from the political agenda in a time of diverse political changes in Europe and the world. I will actively highlight the support for Ukraine at all international parliamentary fora I will personally attend,” said the Speaker of the Seimas.

 

Mr Pranckietis noted that during this legislative term, the Seimas will pay particular attention to the activities of the Assembly of Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as well as the Assembly of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The next Session of the Trilateral Assembly, chaired by the parliamentary leaders, will be held in Warsaw on 27–28 March 2017.

 

At one of its first sittings held on 15 November 2016, the Seimas adopted a Resolution Concerning the Consistency and Continuity of the Foreign, Security and Defence Policy of the Republic of Lithuania in 2016–2020, which foresees targeted support for Ukraine.

 

 

 

Dalia Vencevičienė, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+370 5 239 6016, mob.+370 698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]