Participants of the first debate of this kind on Lithuania’s foreign policy issues focused on relations with Belarus. A broad consensus has been reached that a dialogue with Belarus was needed but was only possible if established red lines were respected, without compromising on the unsafe Ostravets nuclear power plant (NPP) and human rights.
The President emphasized that as Lithuania expressed concern over the Ostravets NPP, the international partners were increasingly aware that it posed threat to the whole Europe. The President called the Government, politicians and members of the Seimas to take a consistent stance on the Ostravets NPP and present it at bilateral and multilateral meetings in Europe and international organizations.
“Lithuania must take a firm stance on the purchase of electricity from power plants that do not comply with international nuclear safety requirements and seek the support of the whole EU on this matter”, the President said. The President also stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the synchronization with the European power grid.
The President welcomed the idea raised at the meeting of a possible national agreement on the Ostravets NPP. This would help to maintain a united position on the threat to national security posed by this facility.
During the debate on relations with Ukraine, it was agreed to support Ukraine’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration, continue active defense and security cooperation, enhance interparliamentary cooperation, and expand economic relations. “It is necessary to continue to support Ukraine in its reforms and help it deal with important European integration issues”, said President Gitanas Nausėda.
The debate at the President’s office was attended by Speaker of the Seimas Viktoras Pranckietis, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Transport and Communications Jaroslavas Narkevičius, Viceminister of Defence Vytautas Umbrasas, Chairs of the Parliamentary Committees Ramūnas Karbauskis, Juozas Bernatonis, Gediminas Kirkilas and Dainius Gaižauskas, members of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, and aFirst Deputy Chancellor of the Government Deividas Matulionis.
