Saakashvili: Lithuania Georgia’s Voice in EU, NATO

President Saakashvili said after talks with his visiting Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus in Tbilisi on November 9, that Lithuania is Georgia’s “voice of support” in EU and NATO which secures regional support for Georgia.

“Lithuania is one of our major voices of support in EU and NATO. I would say this is a very moral voice; while Georgia receives different levels of support from other EU member states, while the EU has its own problems, Lithuania has been consitently supporting our positions ,” Saakashvili said at a joint news conference with Valdas Adamkus.

“President Adamkus has proposed a “3+3 initiative” – three Baltic and three South Caucasus states… I am proud to announce that six Foreign Ministers will meet in Ljubljana in frames of this format in December. Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian Foreign Ministers will meet to foster the integration of the three South Caucasus states into the European structures,” Saakashvili said.

He also noted the important role Lithuania has played in creating an informal grouping uniting Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, which is known as New Friends of Georgia.

“Today, at this very moment, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister is addressing the summit in Bucharest, Romania where the New Friends of Georgia are gathered to help Georgia in integrating into Euro-Atlantic structures. The Georgian and Lithuanian Foreign Minister have already met there and discussed these issues,” Saakashvili said.

Valdas Adamkus said that Lithuania is very interested in seeing Georgia as an equal member of the European family. “Whatever happens in this region – that is legal, political, economical [issues] – we are determined to work together… We will spare no effort to contribute to stability and rule of law in this region,” the Lithuanian President said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)