"Democracy is not a given. Every democratic state has to consistently and continuously work to optimize the functioning of democratic institutions. Georgia, which has come a long way in the implementation of its reforms, must continue to strengthen the essential pillars of democracy, such as freedom and diversity of political parties and the media," said Linkevičius.
The head of the Lithuanian diplomacy underlined the importance of political dialogue between the Government of Georgia and opposition parties. A dialogue based on mutual respect is necessary not only for strengthening of democracy and implementation of the country's national interests, but also for addressing geopolitical threats. Lithuania's Foreign Minister also stressed that this decision would not terminate Georgia's obligations – the country would have to ensure that the legislation was fully and properly implemented.
In the meeting, Lithuania's Foreign Minister reiterated that Lithuania supported Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The international community cannot forget that one quarter of Georgia's territory is still occupied. This fact helps to evaluate the actual progress made by Georgia.
The Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the Lithuanian Foreign Minister for his continuous support and help through sharing experiences. Kvirikashvili said that the delegation he led was ready to come to Vilnius already in the first half of next year and would attend a meeting of the Georgian-Lithuanian Commission for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. On 18 June in Batumi this year, Lithuanian and Georgian Foreign Ministers signed an updated Charter on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, which provides a framework for regular meetings of the Commission.
