This is the third visit by a foreign head of state to Turkey after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan assumed the office of the president of this country.
The two presidents discussed important issues of NATO, Turkey's European integration, the security situation in the region, and efforts of the international coalition to stop terrorist acts of ISIL. They underlined the need to strengthen business cooperation. During the visit, two agreements were signed between Lithuania and Turkey: Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Field of European Integration and Declaration on the Establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission.
The President noted that Turkey was an important ally of Lithuania and NATO, contributing in a significant way to the stability of the whole region. Both countries are faced with similar security challenges, therefore they support each other's efforts to ensure their own security and the security of entire Europe. Turkey backed Lithuania's aspiration for the long-term collective defense guarantees at the NATO Summit in Wales. This country actively participates in the work of the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence and contributes to the air policing mission in the Baltics.
According to the President, the advancement of bilateral trade with Turkey - the world's 16th largest economy with the market of 80 million consumers - is in the economic interests of Lithuania. Over the first six months of this year, Lithuanian exports to Turkey grew by 27 percent. New prospects for bilateral business cooperation are offered by the fast container train Viking, which connects Asia with the Baltic Sea, as well as collaboration in the areas of innovation, IT, lasers, energy, health sciences and research.
The Lithuanian head of state also expressed support to Turkey's euro-integration process. Lithuania backs Turkey's membership in the EU. A new negotiating chapter on regional policy was opened in the second half of Lithuania's term of EU Presidency in 2013.
Dalia Grybauskaitė presented the Turkish head of state with an amber composition, Lithuanian cheese and chocolate confectionery products and handed over a present from the community of Lithuanian Tatars - the picture of the Kaunas Mosque. The Tartars who settled down in Lithuania more than 600 years ago have successfully integrated into the Lithuanian society, preserving their language and traditions. There are about 15 Tatar organizations in our country.
President Grybauskaitė also laid flowers at the tomb of Turkey's first President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Tomorrow, December 9, in Istanbul the President will open the Lithuanian-Turkish business forum. 22 business representatives from Lithuania will attend this event.
