FORUM OF BALTIC SEA STATES COUNCIL.

Throughout presidency in the Council of Baltic Sea States Lithuania fulfilled the key set goals, therefore, it hopes for good evaluation by FMs session, due next week in the Palanga seaside resort, said thechairman of senior officials committee under the Council, Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis. The 8th conference of Council will mark the end Lithuanian term as its chairing nation -- when starting the presidency Lithuania declared the organisation should come to be more pragmatic and find its role in the context of European integration. Cekuolis was quoted as saying, throughout the presidency term of Lithuania, the Council managed to involve more the European Union and Russia in its activities. A particular heed was paid to the efforts to include in regional co-operation the Russian Kaliningrad enclave he said, and "attitude towards this area was internationalised." The importance of Baltic Sea State Council was also assessed by European Commission which called it a useful tool for EU membership seekers. In addition, when presiding over the Council Lithuania availed itself of opportunity to present its foreign policy priorities.