Georgian, Lithuanian FMs discuss Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration agenda
The close friendship between the countries and Lithuania’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has also been reaffirmed at the meeting. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry.
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Georgian foreign minister David Zalkaliani discussed the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration agenda, including the results of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit held in December last year, at his meeting with Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis on Wednesday.
The EaP summit was held on December 15 in Brussels, where the initiative of the associated trio uniting Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova ‘to enhance cooperation with the EU’ was acknowledged.
Zalkaliani visited Vilnius yesterday for the meeting, during which he is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda as well.
Foreign Minister @GLandsbergis: Frank and productive discussion with FM @DZalkaliani. I expressed #Lithuania‘s ???????? strong support for #Georgia‘s ???????? European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We discussed common security challenges, and the need to advance the reform agenda. pic.twitter.com/IaR6VUVl7r
— Lithuania MFA (@LithuaniaMFA) January 19, 2022
The close friendship between the countries and Lithuania’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was reaffirmed at the meeting between Zalkaliani and Landsbergis
The two foreign ministers stressed the particular significance of the meeting in light of the ongoing security tensions between NATO and Russia, confirming the alliance’s open-door policy and the sovereign choice of countries to join it would not be reconsidered.
Following the meeting Landsbergis spoke of the Russian aggression, saying “although today the threat is aimed at Ukraine, obviously, Russia's goal includes Georgia as well.”
[Russia] wants the choices made by the peoples of these states to lose their validity. We can not allow this to happen,” Landsbergis said.
Zalkaliani said red lines for Georgia’s western partners were “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine, as well as our free will to choose security alliances.”
Delighted to visit ????????. The meeting W FM @GLandsbergis stresses the unique character of long-standing ????????-???????? friendship. We value ????????'s vocal support for????????'s sovereignty& terr integrity, as well as efforts to support???????? in advancing on the path of European& Euro-Atlantic integration. pic.twitter.com/7MLyg5F9Ur
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) January 19, 2022
[Red lines include] the inadmissibility of establishing new dividing lines and new spheres of influence in Europe [by Russia],” Zalkaliani further added.
The ministers also discussed the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and in the south Caucasus region in general. The Peaceful Neighbouring Initiative, introduced by the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the 76th meeting of the UN General Assembly in late September last year, was also discussed.
The initiative aims to develop a dialogue and restore trust between neighbours in the region and strengthen the role of Georgia as a mediator.
Zalkaliani will complete his visit to Lithuania on January 21.