Baltic States – CIS, Energy, EU – Baltic States, EU – CIS, Lithuania, Security

David Lidington and Audronius Azubalis. Vilnius, 2.09.2010.

At the meeting, Minister Azubalis welcomed successfully advancing bilateral and regional cooperation, and invited the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to visit Lithuania. "We are glad to observe an increasing involvement of the United Kingdom in the Baltic Sea region. Lithuania and the United Kingdom are united by common values and positions on many issues of the EU, NATO, energy security and the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood," Minister Azubalis said.

The development of bilateral economic relations received considerable attention at the meeting. The Ministers agreed in principle to organize the UK-Lithuanian business forum in 2011. The forum would allow for establishing new business contacts and presenting investment opportunities in both countries, especially focusing on investments in the high-tech sector.

When speaking about the issues on the EU agenda, the Ministers discussed possibilities for efficiency enhancement of the EU's institutional co-operation, also stressed the significance of effective common EU's internal and external energy policy and regional energy transmission links that promote alternative energy supply.

Minister Lidington thanked Lithuania for its dynamic activities in Afghanistan. When speaking about NATO's role in the future, the Ministers stressed the importance to consolidate the provisions of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty in NATO's new Strategic Concept. The Ministers discussed situation in Georgia, emphasizing the necessity to continue supporting Georgia's territorial integrity, stability and democracy in the region, and to make efforts of the international community aiming at the regulation of the Georgia-Russia conflict. Ministers Azubalis and Lidington voiced a united position on closer EU cooperation with Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. According to Minister Azubalis, pragmatic relations with Russia also have to be based on values.

The Ministers agreed to actively cooperate as Lithuania is preparing to chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2011. Minister Lidington promised political support of the United Kingdom during Lithuania's chairmanship.

Minister Lidington is the first member of the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, formed after the parliamentary elections in May 2010 in the United Kingdom, who is paying a visit to a Baltic State.

Minister Lidington is responsible not just for the EU policy, but also for Eastern Neighbourhood, NATO and the OSCE issues.