Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania does not recognize the so-called “parliamentary elections” that took place on 9 June in Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. The “elections” are illegal and have no credible results. In addition, the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania denounces the ongoing attempts to consolidate annexation of the region.
On 5-6 June, the Political Directors' Meeting of the initiative of the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE) took place in Reykjavík.
On 4-5 June, an international conference "Security Challenges in the Digital Era: the Role of Science Advice" was held at the Palace of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. The event, which was open to the broader public, focused on the role of science in building resilience to various threats we face in today's world.
On 3 June, in Jūrmala, Latvia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended a high-level meeting marking the end of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Together with his counterparts from the Baltic and Nordic countries, Germany, Russia, and the European External Action Service, L. Linkevičius discussed prospects for the Baltic Sea regional cooperation.
On 31 May, a conference of the Baltic Assembly, marking the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, took place in Vilnius. The conference focused on trends that will shape the future of the Eastern Partnership initiative in the next ten years. The event was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius.
On 24 May, the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Asta Skaisgirytė met with Jukka Salovaara, Director General of the Finnish Foreign Ministry's Political Department. The meeting discussed the agenda for Finland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU. The country will hold the Presidency of the Council in the second half of this year.
On 24 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) received a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius the and the Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas about unresolved nuclear safety issues of the Ostrovets nuclear power plant project.
On 21 May in Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Albinas Zananavičius attended the General Affairs Council meeting, which discussed the external action aspects of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027.
On 21 May, a traditional meeting of the Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, and German Foreign Ministers took place in Hamburg. The meeting discussed issues of security, the future of the European Union and its relations with eastern neighbors, as well as regional cooperation. In the meeting, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius presented security issues and thanked Germany for its military contribution to NATO's efforts to ensure Baltic security. L. Linkevičius also stressed the need to increase NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities, and to strengthen the EU-NATO security cooperation.
On 16-17 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended a session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which mainly focused on a crisis point reached by the Council of Europe due to Russia's annexation of Crimea.
On 16 May, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Darius Skusevičius attended the Foreign Affairs Council (Development) in Brussels. EU development ministers discussed how to maintain momentum for the 2030 Agenda towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sahel. Ministers also aimed at adjusting their views on the financing of the European Union's foreign policy in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
On 14 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in a high-level conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in Brussels. The Foreign Minister addressed the session on the future goals of the Eastern Partnership.
On 10 May, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) of the United Nations issued recommendations to Lithuania on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Committee highlighted positive legal and institutional measures taken by Lithuania to implement the pact, especially regarding the fight against intolerance and discrimination, the integration of Roma, trafficking in human beings, and training against hate crimes for law enforcement.
On 7 May in New York, the United Nations Economic and Social Council elected Lithuania for the first time ever to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the period 2020-2022. Lithuania‘s election to this important entity of the United Nations will provide the opportunity to further intensify its level of engagement in addressing the issues of gender equality and women's empowerment that are among the priorities of all international organizations, including the United Nations.
On 30 April – 1 May 2019, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considered the ninth and tenth periodic reports submitted by Lithuania in accordance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
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