News

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov to discuss the bilateral relations, economic cooperation and the process of European integration of Ukraine.

According to the President, on its path towards signing the European Union Association Agreement Ukraine should demonstrate real actions and its ability to live in the spirit of political association with Europe – to implement the necessary internal reforms, ensure the rule of law and impartial hearing of political opponents’ cases, as well as to organize democratic elections to the Verchovna Rada this autumn.

“Lithuania supports Ukraine’s aspiration for integration and is ready to help, but the most important works must be done by you. The European future of Ukraine is in your hands,” the President said.

Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that rapid implementation of these terms was essential in order to complete the signing of the association and free trade agreements during Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2013.

Speaking about bilateral economic cooperation, the President stressed that smooth and effective functioning of the shuttle train Viking was a key economic priority for Lithuania and Ukraine.

The meeting also addressed the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the sphere of energy, the investment potential, and the issues of EU visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens.

Press Service of the President

PRIME MINISTER: YULIA TYMOSHENKO’S CASE IS A PROBLEM IN THE RELATIONS OF UKRAINE AND THE EU WHICH CAN AND NEED TO BE SOLVED

Today, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius accepted the head of the Ukrainian Government Mykola Azarov. The questions discussed during the meeting included Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, options of visa-free regime, cooperation in the area of transport, energy projects as well as prospects of economic cooperation.
 
The head of the Lithuanian Government Andrius Kubilius voiced Brussels’ concern regarding Yulia Tymoshenko’s case which is becoming the chief obstacle for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. “I believe that Ukraine will find adequate solutions to this problem,” expressed his hope Andrius Kubilius.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius noted that Lithuania is interested in Ukraine’s integration into the EU. “During the second half of 2013 we are going to hold the presidency of the EU and we would indeed wish to help Ukraine become closer to the EU,” maintained Andrius Kubilius during a joint press conference of the prime ministers.
 
The Lithuanian Prime Minister also highlighted that integration into the EU is subject not only to economic or legal but also to values-based criteria which were to be met by Lithuania or the Balkan countries during the process of their accession to the EU, and which are also to be met by Ukraine.

During the meeting of the Lithuanian and Ukrainian delegations, the following documents were also signed: a programme of cooperation between the Ministries of Culture of the two countries, a memorandum regarding cooperation of the public enterprise Investuok Lietuvoje (Invest in Lithuania) and the State Investment and National Projects Agency of Ukraine and a memorandum on cooperation in the area of control of psychoactive materials between the Ukrainian State Drugs Control Service and the Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department of the Republic of Lithuania.