Speaker of the Seimas and President of the Republic of Slovenia discussed the situation in the Western Balkans and Ukraine

Press release, 12 June 2017

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

Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia. They discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and Slovenia, situation in the European Union, Ukraine and the Balkans. The focus was on hostile propaganda, its prevention, and fight against hybrid threats.

“We commend Slovenia’s role in the region and are in favour of maintaining the EU’s active role in the region and a credible European perspective as well as strengthening the EU’s strategic communication. At the same time, we expect that the Western Balkan countries remain committed to the pro-European choice by further pursuing the necessary reforms and that the Balkan leaders continue communicating the benefits of implemented reforms and integration process to their societies,” said the Speaker of the Seimas.

Mr Pranckietis and Mr Pahor drew attention to the complicated situation in Ukraine, entailing violations of territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as violations of human rights in the annexed Crimea. The Speaker of the Seimas introduced to the Slovenian President Lithuania’s Plan on Ukraine and stated that Lithuania would never recognise the occupation of Crimea and would always support Ukraine on its path towards reform and urge other EU Member States to help Ukraine.

Slovenia is Lithuania’s important partner in the EU and NATO. Both states have been developing friendly bilateral relations and a solid partnership for over 25 years.

The meeting with the President of Slovenia was also attended by Gediminas Kirkilas, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs; Juozas Bernatonis, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Kęstutis Glaveckas, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance; and Loreta Zakarevičienė, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Slovenia.

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