Georgian-Lithuanian Commission Holds Meeting

The relationship between Georgia and Lithuania is good, according to Georgian Prime Minister Mikheil Janelidze. The statement was made at the fourth meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Janelidze and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius signed a protocol for the meeting, which identifies key issues for discussion. The protocol said the meeting participants discussed co-operation between Georgia and the European Union, specifically he commitment to deepening relations between Georgia and the EU, particularly by taking advantage of opportunities provided by the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as the Eastern Partnership (EaP) policy in general.

The protocol says that both delegations welcomed the visa-free travel regime for Georgian citizens in March, 2017, and believed it was a major milestone on the EU-Georgia cooperation agenda. The document also emphasized the relationship between Georgia and NATO and stressed that Georgia's future membership in the Alliance will benefit Euro-Atlantic security. 

According to the protocol, the Georgian Foreign Ministry (MFA) discussed the difficult situation in occupied Georgian territories. “The Lithuanian delegation expressed deep concern over the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and steps towards their annexation by Russia,” the Georgian MFA said.

The protocol also mentioned the economic and trade potential of the countries. The delegations agreed to continue cooperating to intensify cargo flows between Europe, Central Asia and China by connecting the Viking project with the TRACECA transport corridor.

The next meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration will be held in Lithuania next year.

Linas Linkevicius also met Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

The prime minister noted that Lithuania is a very important friend to Georgia, and that Lithuanian support is of particular importance to Georgia’s government.

Interesting mtng w/ @LinkeviciusL. #Lithuania is an important friend of #Georgia & we value the support across wide range of areas. pic.twitter.com/C6Po1seM5d

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) June 12, 2017

Linkevicius arrived in Georgia on June 11 and visited villages near the occupation line between Georgia and its Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. He stressed that what Russia has done is an international crime that separated people and families. According to him, people at the occupation line are deprived of the opportunity to have a normal life due to the Russian annexation.

Eye-witnessed consequences of creeping annexation of #GEO's territories. Call once again upon #RU to stop! #EUMM role for stabilization- key pic.twitter.com/bxwyJJzTCw

— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) June 11, 2017

By Thea Morrison