BNS: Lithuanian president, king of Spain converse on energy, EU neighborhood
Updated 2009-05-13
VILNIUS, May 07, BNS - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and King of Spain Juan Carlos I upon meeting stressed the diversity of energy supplies available in Spain as an example to Lithuania and addressed the efforts put forth by the countries to cultivate partnership in European Union's (EU) neighboring states. Lithuania's experience in ties with Russia were also addressed.
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, who started their visit in Lithuania on Wednesday, briefed Adamkus on Spain's energy situation, the president's press service said in a statement.
The diversity of energy sources in Spain is a perfect example for Lithuania of how this sector should be managed, the presidential press service reported invoking Adamkus' words. Spain's experience in developing liquefied gas technologies and in diversifying energy resources would be greatly valuable to Lithuania, said he.
The Spanish monarch, in turn, stressed Lithuania's experience in EU relations with the community's Eastern neighbors as being of importance to Spain.
The meeting also addressed the Prague Summit taking place on Thursday and the EU Eastern Partnership program, pending approval in the meeting. The Lithuanian president stressed that both Spain and Lithuania are pursuing active development of the community's partnership in EU's neighboring states, with Spain's efforts directed in the EU's South and Lithuania's in The King of Spain displayed interest in Lithuania's take on relations with Eastern neighbors.
As pointed out by President Adamkus, seeking to expand an open and democratic space towards the East, the European Union should strengthen the civic society in Belarus, and direct contacts are very important in this regard, meaning we must seek to facilitate the visa regime for Belarusian citizens.
The King and the Lithuanian president also talked about relations with Russia. The King of Spain was interested in Lithuania's opinion and experience in arranging the EU-Russian Summit during its presidency. President Adamkus underlined that despite the geographic distance between them Lithuania and Spain were linked by shared catholic values and were close partners within the European Union and NATO and were both actively cooperating in the field of culture.
The Head of State noted that Lithuanians were very much interested in the Spanish culture, as demonstrated by universities and schools offering trainings courses of the Spanish language and culture and inter-university student exchanges.
Delivering a toast on the solemn reception held Tuesday for Spain's Royal couple, Adamkus stressed the common cultural experience shared between the two states and reflected on his state visit to Spain back in 2005.
