"Cooperation of the Lithuanian and Belarusian law enforcement services is professional and active. We hope constructive contacts between our services will be developed in the future," Minister Skvernelis said. He underlined that both illegal migration and smuggling are related to organized crime, thus close relations between neighbouring countries institutions, information exchange and participation in joint operations are of extreme importance.

The minister noted that main flows of illegal migration reach Lithuania through the Lithuanian- Belarusian border. For the majority of illegal migrants Lithuania is a transit state on their way to the Western Europe or Scandinavian states. According to him, Lithuania expects even more intense cooperation with Belarusian services in the fight against illegal migration and solving the problem of return of illegal migrants.

Skvernelis stressed Lithuania's support to the mobility partnership initiative between the European Union and Belarus, and expressed hope that joint measures will be helpful while efficiently developing cooperation in the area of managing migration flows.

The ambassador handed the minister the draft agreement on cooperation between the Lithuanian Interior Ministry and the State Forensic Science Committee for consideration.

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