President Dalia Grybauskaitė, currently attending the World Economic Forum, met with Ángel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

On 22 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Ministers discussed the potential role of the EU in revitalizing the Middle East peace process and met with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė is leaving for Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos. The 48th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is described as a historic come-together of Europe and America, which will gather a record number of participants from the highest levels of political, business, academic and cultural leadership.

On 22 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Ministers discussed the potential role of the EU in revitalizing the Middle East peace process and met with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Council has added 17 individuals to its list of those subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions. These listings come in addition to those drawn up by the United Nations, complementing and reinforcing the UN sanctions regime.

At the meeting with the new Ambassador of Norway to Lithuania Karsten Klepsvik on 16 January, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas discussed the bilateral relationship between Lithuania and Norway, and the strengthening of cooperation on issues of importance to our region.

“The creation and consolidation of the state of Lithuania 100 years ago would be unthinkable without the Jewish contribution. We respect Jewish traditions and foster Jewish heritage,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius in a meeting with the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) David Harris.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with foreign ambassadors accredited to Lithuania. At the traditional annual meeting, with the presence of representatives from 67 countries, topical matters of international politics and security as well as matters of importance to Lithuania this year were discussed.

MEPs call for elections in Democratic Republic of Congo, condemn violence in Nigeria and urge China to release human rights activists.

MEPs acknowledge that progress has been made in Brexit negotiations, but stress that the hardest part of the talks is yet to come.