The President underlined that every country must be free to choose its own course of development and called the world leaders' attention to external threats often encountered by countries.
"In the 21st century, there are still those who want to enforce a specific course of development on others, by economic pressure, energy levers or cyber tools. Every country though has the right to choose a path which suits its experience, culture and needs the best," the President said.
She presented Lithuania's experience and reforms that made Lithuania one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. However, independent Lithuania still faces serious threats from the outside. According to the President, today Lithuania is again under pressure. Barriers to travelling, unreasonable delays of cargo transportation, the milk war - these are just a few examples of attempts to hamper the development of our state. The reason for such pressure is obvious - our country is too self-independent. It holds the Presidency of the EU Council, supports Eastern European countries with development projects inviting them to go the democratic European way.
She emphasized that in the 21st century there is no place for enforced choices, blackmail or any other external pressure.
"For nations, the decision is really difficult to make when free choice means receiving threats to raise gas prices or block trade, instead of getting support or advice. It is hard to implement reforms that generate blackmail. But the use of economic, energy or information tools to demonstrate power or set up zones of influence is unjustifiable," the President noted.
According to the President, the 21st century must be the age of solidarity, equality and sustainable development. It cannot be an age of power show-off or buffer zones. Those times are over and any attempt to return to those times impedes the development of modern world.
