Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament (Seimas) of the Republic of Lithuania: we encourage political leaders to work together for Georgia’s aspirations of memberships in the EU and NATO
During his working visit to Georgia, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament (Seimas) of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Žygimantas Pavilionis, met Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia Mr. Nikoloz Samkharadze and Chair of the Committee on European Integration, Head of Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Lithuania Ms. Maka Botchorishvili. During the visit Mr. Pavilionis will also meet representatives of opposition and the non-governmental sector of Georgia.
During the meetings in the Parliament, it was emphasized that Lithuania has interest in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, especially when there is a worrying trend of growing violations of human rights, international law in the neighborhood of Lithuania and Georgia. Lithuania will seek that the Russian Federation would fully implement the 2021 January 21 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, which holds the Russian Federation responsible for human rights violations in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, occupied by Russia Ž. Pavilionis proposed to intensify inter-parliamentary cooperation with Lithuania and other Baltic states and stated that it was especially important to continue sectoral reforms, focusing on reforms in the areas of law and elections.
During the discussions on current political situation in Georgia, Mr. Pavilionis underlined the necessity to find constructive ways to bring different positions closer together. It is therefore crucial to continue building trust between the society and the authorities. Mr. Pavilionis also echoed the sentiments expressed in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania with regard to Georgia, pointing out the advisability for both the government and the opposition to refrain from actions that might lead to further stalemate and division of society, which could only serve the interests of outside forces rooting for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations to fail.
"We invite the authorities and the opposition to work together on the strategic goals that are important for the whole country - the aspirations of the EU and NATO membership," said Žygimantas Pavilionis. According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Lithuania has learned these lessons while pursuing its EU and NATO memberships and is convinced that political forces will unite for the sake of Georgia’s future in the Euro-Atlantic community.
