President Welcomes Consent to Include Lithuania’s Proposals into the Mandate to Start Negotiations with Russia
Updated 2008-05-12
Sunday, May 11, Vilnius – President Valdas Adamkus met with Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski who arrived to Vilnius to discuss issues pertaining to EU’s mandate for talks with Russia.
“I am delighted that our friends, foreign ministers from Sweden, Poland and Slovenia, are here in Lithuania. If there had been some doubts about the possibility for Lithuania to raise issues of major importance to her at the EU level, we are now confident that our foreign policy is aimed in the right direction. The EU mandate for negotiations with Russia will include the January 13th and Medininkai massacre cases, which are not being solved. Our objective is to speak in one voice within the European Union and we have made a major step in this direction today,” Mr. Adamkus said.
President Adamkus pointed out that the issues raised by Lithuania in its declarations were not new. Even before the recent Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, Lithuania had sent a signal that Europe’s mandate for talks with Russia had to be supplemented.
“It is very important that today Lithuania’s legitimate and just requests have been heard and understood by the EU presiding country and our neighbors. These requests reflect the experience and expectations of the people of Lithuania. I hope that we will succeed in making other EU capitals understand Lithuania’s proposals and take them into account,” Mr. Adamkus said.
Speaking about the understanding and solidarity demonstrated by the representatives from Slovenia, Sweden, Poland, and the European Union, Valdas Adamkus underlined that Lithuania had always been and was ready for dialogue and compromise.
President Adamkus welcomed the efforts and the political will to reflect the moments of crucial importance to Lithuania in the negotiating mandate. He described it as a very significant example of European compromise.
“I strongly hope that the EU presiding country of Slovenia and the European Commission which will negotiate with the Government of Russia will succeed in gaining support in the whole of Europe,” Mr. Adamkus said.
Press Service of the President
