The FINANCIAL — On 7 April 2016, as part of the official visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze to Lithuania, the 3rd meeting of the Lithuanian-Georgian Commission for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration was held in Vilnius, according to MFA of Georgia.
The meeting, which was co-chaired by the Georgian and Lithuanian Foreign Ministers, was also attended by directors of the departments of the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.
Talking points included the issues on the agenda: Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, security environment, bilateral relations, economic co-operation, Georgia’s territorial integrity, multilateral relations and co-operation in the sphere of strategic communications.
Minister Linkevičius reaffirmed Lithuania’s readiness to promote the process of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Members of the delegations endorsed their commitment to work towards strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the EU, seeking to fully implement the Association Agreement and to take greater advantage of the opportunities provided by it.
Discussions focused on the progress achieved by Georgia in the process of implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan, which will facilitate the enhancement of people-to-people contacts and the establishment of active business and economic ties.
The delegations highlighted the increasing potential of bilateral co-operation in the economic sphere, focused on new opportunities of co-operation provided for by the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and by the Eastern Partnership, and underlined the need to establish direct and close ties between business communities and organisations.
Particular emphasis was put on effective communication with the society. The delegation welcomed the implementation of Communication and Information Strategy of the Government of Georgia in the sphere of EU Integration for the period of 2014-2017. Lithuania committed to continue to share its experience with Georgia in the sphere of communications.
The Lithuanian delegation expressed its readiness to continue supporting Georgia in developing administrative and institutional opportunities, underlined that Lithuania will continue the implementation of four projects begun in 2015 and reaffirmed that in 2016 will complete the projects in the spheres of health protection, environment protection, climate change prevention, agriculture, social development and equal civil rights.
The members of the Lithuanian delegation acknowledged that Georgia’s contribution to NATO operations and missions, as well as its broader role in preserving regional security and stability were particularly highly evaluated. The delegation underlined that Georgia will continue undertaking reforms in the fields of defence and security in order to achieve its goals to join NATO and noted that prospects for Georgia’s NATO membership will be reconfirmed at the forthcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016.
The Lithuanian delegation reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The significant role of the European Union in ensuring security and stability in Georgia was also underlined. The Georgian delegation thanked Lithuania for active participation in the European Union Monitoring Mission.
The two delegations agreed to hold the next meeting of the Lithuanian-Georgian Commission in Georgia.
In conclusion, Mikheil Janelidze and Linas Linkevičius signed the Final Protocol of the Commission.
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