News

Monday, August 11, Vilnius – President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus received Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas who has just came back from Georgia.

    The Minister informed the President about the situation in Georgia, his meetings with Georgian leaders and high-ranking officials of the EU, his visit at the hot spot, Georgian town of Gori attacked by Russian fighter jets, and Georgia’s losses.

    The President sees the events in Georgia as a threat to democracy. “What is going on is what Lithuania was the first to articulate, i.e. aggression that can turn into war,” Mr. Adamkus said.

    According to the President, Lithuania has taken the right position in this military conflict. “We are determined to continue our diplomatic efforts towards peaceful solution,” President Adamkus said.

    Lithuania’s President welcomes the decision taken by his Georgian counterpart, President Saakashvili, to accept the action plan proposed by the French Presidency of the EU and to cease fire. “Now it is for Russia to make a countermove,” the President said.

    Mr. Adamkus thinks the process must receive still higher attention by EU and NATO diplomats, negotiators, observers and peacemakers who, while in Georgian territory, should help the government of the country to protect its citizens, to solve the issue of territorial integrity, and to reach solutions acceptable both to Georgia and the international community.  

    The President thanked the Foreign Minister and the Ministry’s staff for their diplomatic efforts in reporting on the situation in Georgia.