Linkevičius met with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmood al Said, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad al Busaidi. Cultural exchange issues were also discussed with the Minister of Information Abdulmunim bin Mansour bin Said al-Hasani.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted that when assessing the situation in Syria, Yemen, Libya and other countries in the region, the Omani expertise on topical issues concerning the region was especially important for Lithuania.
During the visit, the officials signed two documents – the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania and the Ministry of Higher Education of Oman, relating to cooperation in higher education and the MOU between the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Oman, relating to cooperation in agricultural and fishery sectors. The latter document was signed by the Vice-Minister of Agriculture of Lithuania Rolandas Taraškevičius, who was visiting Oman as part of the Lithuanian delegation.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Lithuania and the Sultanate of Oman. On this occasion, a celebration event took place at the Royal Opera House and a photographic exhibition “Oman through the eyes of Lithuanian photographers and Lithuania through the eyes of Omani artists” was presented.
Linkevičius was accompanied by a delegation of Lithuanian businessmen, who aim to promote economic ties and trade cooperation. One of the goals of the visit was to establish contacts that would help promote closer cooperation, while sharing best practices in the healthcare sector.
The two countries have enjoyed a regular and intense bilateral dialogue since 2010, when the MOU on bilateral consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman was signed.