President Ivan Gašparovič Pays an Official Visit to Lithuania

Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and his spouse paid an official visit to the Republic of Lithuania on June 5-7, 2011. While in Vilnius, President started his visit by meeting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. “Our relations are not marked by any open issues and problems. I believe that cooperation between Slovakia and Lithuania can be successful,” the Slovak President noted at the beginning of the meeting. There was also a bilateral, regional and multilateral dimension to the talks between the Slovak and Lithuanian heads of state. Dalia Grybauskaitė noted that “Lithuania considers the Slovak Republic to be an important partner both in NATO and the European Union. I am very pleased that we share common interests and that we encourage each other”. According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, “Lithuania and Slovakia, as smaller European countries, should support each other”.

“I am delighted that our last year’s trade turnover has reached the levels seen before the economic crisis”, Mr Gašparovič said. Slovakia imports 100% of energy producing materials, therefore “we are supporting the diversification of the routes and sources of energy”. Energy security is regarded as a priority in both countries. In this context, Mr Gašparovič conveyed Slovakia’s opinion that “we remain committed to our nuclear power programme, because it is vital for the functioning of the economy“. Taking into account the recent events in Fukushima, he emphasised that Slovakia would pay even more attention to the safety of its nuclear power plants and that we were in agreement with Lithuania on this issue.

Slovakia and Lithuania are both involved in the preparations for the Via Carpatia project – the north-south transport route between the Baltic countries and the Central and South-East Europe. The Slovak President also informed his Lithuanian host about the Danube Strategy project and the importance of regional cooperation among the Visegrad Four countries. He was keen to learn more about Lithuania’s experience in the regional cooperation among the Baltic countries.
In the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Mr Gašparovič paid homage to the victims of the battle for Lithuania’s sovereignty by laying a wreath at the Antakalnis Cemetery.

When meeting President Gašparovič, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Lithuanian Republic Irena Degutienė said she would welcome intensified cooperation between the parliaments of both countries. Mr. Gašparovič shared the same opinion, adding that the representatives of the national parliaments should be meeting each other more frequently. “In-person meetings of the highest state officials bring impetus to further development of cooperation in all areas,” the Slovak President said. They also touched on the issue of nuclear safety: Irena Degutienė said her country was keen to improve the safety of nuclear power plants and diversify Lithuania’s oil and gas sources and transit.

Both representatives also discussed closer cooperation of regional groups – the Baltic Three and the Visegrad Four – at the EU level. “It would be good if we, as smaller countries, could form a group capable of competing with other major countries of the EU,” Mr Gašparovič said. Even though we might not necessarily share the same views on all issues, we should capitalize on the effect of joint course of action in all matters of importance, he added.

At his meeting with the Slovak President, the Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius described bilateral relations as very good. He noted that, as members of the EU and NATO, Lithuania and Slovakia were on good terms. President Gašparovič said the 2010 trade turnover of EUR 134 million returned to pre-crisis levels. He praised the fact that Lithuania’s economy recovered from the global crisis and registered a 1.3% increase in GDP.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister informed the President of a positive outlook for the growth of his country’s economy. “As much as 70 percent of Lithuania’s exports are directed to the markets of EU countries, and exports represent the driving force of our economy,” Andrius Kubilius noted. He was also interested in Slovakia’s experience as member of the euro zone in the context of the financial crisis and the bankruptcy of several European economies. Gašparovič told his counterpart that Slovakia participated in the ESM, however, the EU’s position to the recent developments in Greece remained a question mark. The entry into the euro zone was decisive for the development of our economy, according to Gašparovič. The impacts of the economic crisis were less painful and our economy has become more attractive for foreign investors and businesses, he said.