Lithuania's Foreign Minister is paying an official visit to Armenia

Today Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas is starting his official visit to Armenia where he will meet with the highest ranking officials of the state, as well as with the representatives of the international organizations and local authorities.

The goal of the visit is to discuss Armenia‘s participation in the Eastern Partnership, Armenia‘s relations with the European Union and Lithuania‘s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Minister will also discuss a possible Lithuania‘s technical assistance aimed at deepening Armenia‘s relations with the EU.

In the second half-year of 2009, Lithuania‘s embassy in Armenia is representing the Swedish EU Presidency. This is the first time, when a Lithuanian embassy has the function of representing the EU Presidency.

Minister V.Ušackas will inform Armenia‘s officials about Lithuania‘s preparations to chair the OSCE, he also intends to learn about Armenia’s attitude concerning the objectives of Lithuania’s chairmanship. In this context, issues of regulating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will also be discussed.

The topics of meetings during the visit also include the perspectives of bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation, situation in the South Caucasus.

Minister V.Ušackas will meet with Chairman of Armenia‘s  National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, Armenia‘s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council Artur Bagdasaryan, representatives of the opposition and non-governmental organizations, heads of the European Commission’s Delegation and the OSCE Office in Yerevan.  The Minister will also visit the Tavush province of Armenia where he will meet the governor of the region.

Lithuania and Armenia established diplomatic relations 18 years ago, on 21 November 1991.