Lithuania says intends to support deepening of EU-Armenia ties

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lithuania intends to support the deepening of EU-Armenia relations, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told her Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday, October 19.

“The European Union remains Armenia's main partner in reform processes. Lithuania is ready to add its expert support to the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, as well as to the overall reform process underway in Armenia,” Šimonytė told reporters in a statement following a meeting with Pashinyan.

“We discussed how Lithuania's expertise potential can be used in various fields: energy, especially renewable energy, transport and environment, as well as other reforms. I am sure that Armenia's success in the reform process will help strengthen Armenia's democracy, increase its resilience and ensure Armenia's rightful place in the community of democracies.

“Most importantly, it will be the reflection of the choice of the Armenian people, which will allow them to build the prosperity they truly deserve. An independent, sovereign, safe and prosperous democratic Armenia, as well as peace and stability in the South Caucasus, are our common goals. Lithuania is committed to working together to achieve them.”

Pashinyan said, meanwhile, that Lithuania is one of Armenia’s reliable partners in the European Union, and that Yerevan is grateful for the political support given to us by Lithuania in the EU-Armenia relations, for promoting the access to Armenia’s views and approaches in the European Union, and the taking decisions important to Armenia.

“One such decision is the deployment of a Civilian Observation Mission along the state border of Armenia with Azerbaijan,” he said.

“The day before, I gave an extensive speech in the European Parliament, where I noted that Armenia is ready to be closer to the European Union, as much as the European Union considers it possible. We discussed with Prime Minister Šimonytė what this means, or what it could mean in practice. We also talked about the decisions to be made in the European Union in the near future, which also concern the South Caucasus region.

“I presented to the Prime Minister of Lithuania our project and proposal of the Crossroads of Peace, which I also spoke about in the European Parliament, the key goal of which is the re-opening and activation of regional North-South and East-West communications, including through the territory of Armenia, which will connect the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, the Black Sea to the Gulf, and this can not only be a long-term guarantee of the stability and development of our region, but also become an important hub of global economic cooperation. This can also activate EU-Armenia, Lithuania-Armenia economic ties.”