"We very much appreciate Costa Rica's clear stance on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is a reminder that we are democratic peers who respect rules and not brutal aggression as the norm in international relations. Distance is irrelevant to the solidarity of democracies - today we need to stand together and cooperate more closely than ever before," said Chancellor Balčytytė.
Lithuania is also actively contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction on a bilateral basis and by inviting like-minded partner countries to do likewise. As the Chancellor emphasised, even the smallest contribution is important, as it is a significant symbol of our common values and our intransigence against aggression.
The meeting discussed countries' experiences in countering pressure from authoritarian regimes and hybrid threats, as well as the resilience of democracies to disinformation and economic coercion.
As the Chancellor said, the methods of the cooperating authoritarian regimes are often identical, and their disinformation campaigns have an identical pattern.
Recognising the importance of a stronger partnership between democracies and the development of resilience, Lithuania, together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will implement a training programme on resilience and countering disinformation. The Chancellor of the Government invited Costa Rica, also a member of the OECD, to take part in the programme.