LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSED BILATERAL RELATIONS
50
Nov 18 2008
Tuesday, November 18, Vilnius – President of the Republic of Lithuania
Valdas Adamkus received Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian.
The President commended Lithuania’s and Armenia’s bilateral relations
that are gaining momentum. "The opening of the Lithuanian Embassy in
Yerevan and the planned opening of the Armenian Embassy in Vilnius
will send a message to our entrepreneurs, artists and all other
people about our commitment to facilitate, as much as possible, the
development of our bilateral relations. I hope our people will make
use of the emerging new opportunities for cooperation," President
Adamkus said in the meeting.
Lithuania’s leader noted that Armenia is developing its relations
with Europe, is increasingly opening its doors to its neighbours and
is looking collectively for common responses to the long-standing
problems. The President says these steps taken by Armenia and its
efforts towards a compromise have a positive effect on stability and
economic growth in the entire region.
Minister Nalbandian pointed up that his country hopes to develop
further the cooperation with Lithuania both on a bilateral scale and
with a view to closer relations with the European Union.
"Europe needs Armenia and we are ready to help your country to get
closer to the European Union," the President said.
The Armenian Foreign Minister informed the President of Lithuania
about Armenia’s aspirations for closer relations with Turkey and on
the progress of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
President Adamkus underlined that Lithuania supports efforts to solve
this issue by way of a dialogue and peacefully. "Lithuania has been
and will be supporting a solution that will reflect wishes and the
will of the countries involved and their citizens. It is only through
negotiations and mutual compromise that the best solution could be
arrived at," President Adamkus said.
According to the Lithuanian President, such a solution must be
based on international legal principles and contribute to stronger
peace, security and stability in the region and beyond, and specific
solutions should be sought within the existing negotiation formats
of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.