EP: Official visit of President Poettering to Lithuania
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament, is paying an official visit to Lithuania today and Friday, the 24th and 25th of April on the invitation of Mr Česlovas Juršėnas, Speaker of the Seimas (National Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania.
During the visit the President will meet with the President of Lithuania Mr Valdas Adamkus, the Prime Minister Mr Gediminas Kirkilas and Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekūnas, as well as the Speaker of the Seimas Mr Česlovas Juršėnas. The President will also have an exchange-of-views with Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Archbishop of Vilnius.
The highlight of the visit will be an address by President Pöttering to a session of the Seimas. The speech will coincide with the debate on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty which the Seimas will be having the same day. In his speech the President will convey a strong message of support on behalf of the European Parliament for ratification in the member states - in time for the Treaty to come into force on 1 January 2009 - as a prerequisite for the European Union to face the challenges of the future. He will also meet the leaders of the parliamentary groups.
On Thursday afternoon the President will address Belarusian students at the European Humanities University in exile. In the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue the President will meet with representatives of the Polish minority. On Friday morning the President will pay a visit to the Museum of Genocide Victims.
PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT
Thursday 24/04/2008 Vilnius
15.20-15.40 Speech at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
15.40-16.20 Meeting with Mr. Česlovas JURŠĖNAS, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
16.20-16.30 Press point
16.30-17.00 Meeting with representatives of Political groups in Seimas
17.10-18.10 Meeting with representatives and students of the European Humanitarian University
18.30-19.00 Meeting with representatives of the Polish minority
Friday 25/04/2008 Vilnius
09.30-10.00 Meeting with H.E. Mr. Valdas ADAMKUS, President of the Republic of Lithuania
10.00-10.05 Press point
10.10-10.45 Meeting with the Mr. Gediminas KIRKILAS, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania and with Mr. Petras VAITIEKŪNAS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
10.45-10.55 Press point
11.00-11.40 Visit at the Museum of Genocide Victims
11.45-12.25 Meeting with Cardinal Juozas Audrys BAČKIS
