Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, EU – CIS, Integration, Legislation, Lithuania, Transport, Ukraine

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and Audronius Azubalis. Vilnius, 17.06.2010.

Currently, Ukraine’s priorities in this field are: the completion of negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which provides for a comprehensive free trade area, and the introduction of a visa-free regime. Lithuania will continue its expert support for Ukraine by sharing its experience of European integration in various administrative and technical fields.

The Council decided to hold annual bilateral consultations on the issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. The consultations would cover trade, visas and other matters.

The joint Council of the foreign ministries of Ukraine and Lithuania is a new framework for bilateral cooperation, dedicated to the constructive development of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“The partnership of our countries stems from mutual understanding that our fate has brought us together and, therefore, we must cooperate in order to achieve a secure, sustainable, democratic and successful development of our countries,” head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said during the meeting of the Council.

K.Gryshchenko highlighted the fact that his official visit to Lithuania was among the first ones on his agenda, which showed attention to Lithuania and the strategic partnership of the countries.

At its first meeting, the Council discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation, Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, trade and economic relations, regional and international security.

As far as further cooperation in implementing the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative is concerned, the countries agreed to focus on the facilitation of customs procedures and transit, energy and cultural heritage. The countries will implement bilateral and multilateral projects in these spheres.

The countries will cooperate with Turkey and will aim to achieve higher level of loads when developing the project of the international container train ‘Viking’.

At the meeting, the Council also decided that Lithuania and Ukraine would cooperate in the areas of security and defence, including further development of the Ukraine-NATO partnership. As a NATO partner, Ukraine participates in all operations of the Alliance. Lithuania especially values Ukraine’s contribution to the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan’s Ghor Province.

The countries will cooperate in promoting stability and security in the region during Lithuania’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2011. Lithuania intends to support Ukraine’s aspirations to chair this organization in the future.

Ministers A.Ažubalis and K.Gryshchenko exchanged diplomatic notes, which will allow the bilateral agreement on consular tax tariffs to enter into force. The agreement that foresees free long-term national visas was signed during the visit of Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė to Ukraine last year.

The Ministers also adopted a joint declaration on Ukraine’s European integration, which highlights that Lithuania will continue to support Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations and will develop bilateral cooperation aiming to share its experience of European integration.

On 18 June, the Lithuanian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers will also visit Vilnius Heart Surgery Centre Kardiolita, where Ukrainian orphans are treated.