08 October 2015, 15:43
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Marius Janukonis noted that this was his first meeting with the members of the deputy group on the post of the Ambassador. He informed about great interest of the Seimas [the Parliament] of the Republic of Lithuania in cooperation with Ukraine in different fields.
Speaking about the introduction of the visa-free regime with Ukraine, Janukonis said the Ukrainian authorities had to fulfill their "homework:" at first introduce internal biometric passports and take other steps in compliance with the EU Law. He noted that the conflict in the east of Ukraine could in no way affect the introduction of the visa-free regime with Ukraine.
Andrius Kubilius, a member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Prime Minister of Lithuania (1999-2000; 2008-2012), says that politically Ukraine is currently at the level Lithuania was at in 1990. He said that since the Revolution of Dignity he has often visited Ukraine, in particular, Kyiv, and noted that real reforms in the country started only in 2014. He said that one of the major preconditions for successful development of Lithuania since the beginning of its independence and so far was the membership of the European Union, which facilitated holding of a number of reforms and consolidated all political forces around this process. Kubilius noted that Lithuanian politicians and diplomats have tried to use their influence in European countries to retain Ukraine and its problems in the sight of the whole world. He also mentioned that the Ukrainian authorities would have to rebuild its information strategy to show that Ukraine is really undergoing reforms.
Kubilius drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian authorities should use information space to affect the way of society's thinking, in particular, to assure the Ukrainians not to expect sudden positive changes. He also said the Ukrainian Government had to define priorities in the reforms and build good market relations thanks to Ukraine's considerable potential for internal growth.
Asked about the military conflict in the east of Ukraine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine (2010-2014) Petras Vaitiekunas noted that the occupied territory is a Ukrainian land and said the authorities had to protect people there and provide humanitarian aid to that location. He also said that Ukraine today should do its best to obtain prospects of membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
At the end of the meeting, its participants decided to hold next offsite meeting at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and adjust cooperation at the interparliamentary level.