Parliamentary panels say Lithuania should wait for Russia's actions
Updated 2008-09-03
VILNIUS, September 03, BNS - Lithuanian parliament's two committees agreed on Wednesday to wait for the next week's meeting of the Russian and French presidents, as well as further moves of Russia. Speaking to journalists after the joint meeting of the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee's chairman Justinas Karosas said that the Sept. 8 summit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will decide further steps of the European Union (EU) and Lithuania.
Karosas stressed that "certain guidelines" had been set during the Monday's session of EU leaders. "Certain political steps were taken during the recent meeting of the European Council, which also specified possible moves to be made if a signal is received after the Sarkozy-Medvedev meeting that Russia is not hearing what the EU is saying today," said Karosas.
Asked about EU's further steps with regard to Russia, the Foreign Affairs Committee's chairman mentioned restriction of the visa regime, financial sanctions and possible expulsion from relevant international organizations. "Everything will depend on the implementation of the agreements, first of all, the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," said the politician.
In his words, the common Lithuanian stance is to "give Russia a certain time reserve because we want to relieve rather than escalate the conflict."
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Zygimantas Pavilionis who substituted for Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas at the meeting said: "Everything will depend on the steps taken by Russia."
"The assignment given to ministers (of EU countries) is to start examination of the relations with Russia in all sectors in order to see where the cooperation is useful to us and where it has to be revised," the undersecretary stressed.
In his words, the EU's next moves will depend on Russia's "ability to hear the calls of the international community."
The chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Andrius Kubilius, said that the best Lithuania could do is "to send a clear signal at the earliest convenience that Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova have a clear perspective of joining the EU and NATO."
On Monday, the European Council decided to postpone the strategic partnership treaty negotiations with Russia until it withdraws its soldiers from Georgia.
