Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis: Latvia is Lithuania’s important and reliable partner
Having chosen the neighbouring Latvia as his first official foreign destination, on 12 January, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis met with the leaders of the country, including President Raimonds Vējonis, Speaker of the Saeima Inara Mūrniece and Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis.
“I am particularly happy to be here, in Riga, on my first foreign visit as a Prime Minister. May I note in the first place that the relations with Latvia are of strategic importance for Lithuania. We very much appreciate our excellent bilateral cooperation. Latvia is Lithuania’s important and reliable partner.”
The Prime Minister also noted the like-mindedness of Lithuania and Latvia on many foreign policy issues such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, NATO’s importance to the regional security, the Eastern Partnership, the migration challenges, the need to foster greater unity in the European Union. According to the Prime Minister, close Lithuanian-Latvian bilateral relations have a crucial role in ensuring the regional energy security, and joint energy and transport infrastructure projects.
“In 2018, we will be celebrating together the centenary of the restoration of the statehood of the Baltic countries. This will offer a great opportunity to consolidate and inspire our nations, thus building civic awareness and self-esteem of our nations. I am pleased about a great number of joint future Baltic projects to mark this occasion”, said the Head of Government.
September 2015 was noted by the interlocutors as the date of the first historic joint Lithuanian-Latvian governmental meeting. The counterparts expressed hope about making it a traditional event, thus contributing to ever closer dialogue between the Governments of the neighbouring countries.
Among other items on the meeting agenda, the Prime Ministers discussed energy, nuclear safety, transport, and the international co-operation. The Prime Minister of Lithuania invited his Latvian colleague to pay a visit to Lithuania.
Press and Communication Unit
Office of the Government of Lithuania
