“Lithuania is consistent in supporting Georgia on its Euro-Atlantic integration path. Georgia is already one of the NATO’s most active partners, contributing substantially to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations. Georgia is also actively engaged in seeking integration with the European Union. Lithuania supports Georgia’s Euro-Integration aspirations. However, we know from our experience that this path demands reforms. Lithuania is determined to provide assistance to Georgia by sharing its experience on the rule of law, fight against corruption, and judicial reforms,” the President said and took the opportunity to extend congratulations to Georgia on the thirtieth anniversary of the re-established independence.
Gitanas Nausėda underlined that the EU Eastern Partnership was one of Lithuania’s top foreign policy priorities and invited the President of Georgia to jointly prepare for an ambitious Eastern Partnership Summit to be held at the end of 2021. The President welcomed the decision to establish the “Associated Trio” – Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – as a format for closer cooperation. Gitanas Nausėda stressed the importance of speeding up the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, which was essential for closer relations and faster European integration.
The President of Lithuania noted the constructive engagement of the President of Georgia in addressing the political crisis this spring. He called on all Georgian political forces to implement the EU-facilitated inter-party agreement and stressed that reforms, particularly in the electoral and judicial systems, were essential for consolidating democracy and national political stability.
“Democratic reforms are the only path towards the European Union. At the same time, it is crucial to understand that they are needed not only to become a member of the European Union, but above all, to consolidate the state, its civil society, democratic principles, and the rule of law,” the President said.
President Nausėda expressed Lithuania’s support for Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Lithuania will never recognize the occupation of part of Georgia – the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We will continue to raise this issue in international organizations”, the President stated.
At the meeting, the Presidents of Lithuania and Georgia signed a Joint Declaration in support for Georgia’s Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
At the meeting of official delegations following the tete-a-tete meeting of the Presidents, the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and bilateral relations between Lithuania and Georgia, particularly in the fields of economic stimulation, technological development, manufacturing, environment, health and cybersecurity, were also discussed. The President informed about the Lithuanian Government’s decision to provide Georgia with 15 doses of vaccines against coronavirus.
