EU Commissioner Verheugen – Vilnius could play a vital role in the EU’s relation with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Posted by editor on 9/03/09 • Categorized as Foreign Policy • 
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EU Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen is convinced that Lithuania could act as a bridge between the EU and its Eastern neighbours, even though he also praised President Grybauskaite’s attempts to strengthen Lithuania’s ties with the Western EU Capitals.
After the meeting with the President the commissioner said that ”I encouraged president Grybauskaite very strongly to develop Lithuania’s role as an EU member state that is able to serve as a bridge between the EU and neighbouring countries in the East, and particularly Russia and Belarus” Lithuania’s public radio broadcaster reported.
Grybauskaite briefed the commissioner about her phone conversation with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, spoke of relations with Ukraine and communicated news of the potential forthcoming visit of the president of Belarus to Lithuania, the Presidential press release said.
“They spoke of good neighbourhood relations with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Verheugen expressed his conviction that Lithuania could play a crucial role. Lithuania’s president, informed him about her telephone conversation with the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and the potential upcoming visit of the President of Belarus to Vilnius, and spoke of relations with Ukraine,” the Presidential Spokes Person Mr Balsys said to the press.
Lithuanian commentators noted that Grybauskaite is thoroughly following her election pledge to restore balance in Lithuania’s Foreign Policy and pay more attention to the allies in the Western EU.
On Friday, 4 September Grybauskaite is going on an official visit to France, where together with the President Sarkozy she will sign a declaration of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
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