President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus received Mr. Alexander Stubb, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. The discussions in the meeting concerned energy security, the upcoming EU-US Summit, and the EU Eastern Partnership issues. The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs extended congratulations to Lithuania on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of its accession to NATO.

The President pointed up the intensive and friendly relations between Lithuania and Finland, and underlined that Lithuania saw vast opportunities for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and environmental protection, for the development of energy and transport infrastructure, and for negotiating their common positions within the EU.

President Adamkus also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation within the Baltic region. “Lithuania and Finland must work together with other Baltic and Nordic countries to overcome the present economic difficulties and strengthen further the Baltic region by their joint efforts” the Lithuanian leader said.

The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed confidence that the approaching Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States would surely add to stronger economic development and competitiveness of the region.

In relation to energy security issues, Mr. Stubb underlined that Europe had to strengthen its internal energy policy and address, by a united effort, the issue of energy diversification. According to the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania could serve as a strong example to follow in this area. He said Finland favoured a faster interconnection of Nordic and Baltic energy markets and supported the electricity bridge projects underway. According to the President of Lithuania, Lithuania should learn from Finland to move towards nuclear energy.

Talking about the EU's Eastern policy, Mr. Stubb pointed out that Lithuania had always been in the front ranks of countries calling on the EU to give more attention to Europe's eastern neighbours. President Adamkus expressed hope the EU Eastern Partnership Summit due on 7 May 2009 would finally agree on the Eastern Partnership project important to the whole Europe.

Talking about the complicated situation in Georgia, the President expressed regret over the killing of a Georgian policeman yesterday.

“This is another casualty after the European Union has declared the provisions of the Medvedev-Sarkozy peace-plan fulfilled. Even to this date, international observers are not allowed into the occupied territories, refuges are not allowed into their homes, agreements reached in the Geneva round are ineffective,” President Adamkus pointed out.

Another issue discussed in the meeting was the project of the Nord Stream gas pipeline to be laid on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, which raises many concerns over its likely effects on the environment.

“Being aware of the unpredictable and unknown threat posed by this large-scale construction in the Baltic Sea which is already one of the most polluted seas in the world, we are very alarmed. Lithuania and Finland must work together with other Baltic countries in a very responsible manner, in order to assess the threat of the pipeline for the ecosystem of the whole Baltic Sea region,” President Adamkus said.