Armenia, Lithuania to boost bilateral ties

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Jun 05

[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met Lithuanian Speaker
Arturas Paulauskas today. The sides discussed cooperation between
Armenia and Lithuania.

The Lithuanian speaker said that the Baltic countries are more
experienced in European integration and intend to share it with their
Armenian counterparts. He said that great changes can be seen in all
spheres in Armenia.

Noting Lithuania’s great success in European integration and in the
transition period, Kocharyan described Lithuania’s experience as
useful for Armenia because the two countries have a lot in common.

The sides also discussed opportunities for developing economic
cooperation, noted the importance of bilateral discussions, exchanging
information and intensifying business relations.

The meeting also discussed regional issues. Kocharyan informed the
Lithuanian parliamentary delegation about the current situation in the
negotiating process on settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

The members of the delegation also met officials of Armenia’s
legislative and executive authorities today.

[Correspondent] Lithuanian Speaker Arturas Paulauskas who is paying a
visit to Armenia at the invitation of Armenian Speaker Bagdasaryan
started his working day with a tete-a-tete meeting with his Armenian
counterpart. The Armenian speaker informed his Lithuanian counterpart
about the constitutional reforms in the country, noting that Armenia
has taken the path of European integration and it is important for
Armenia to learn Lithuania’s experience as a new member country of the
European Union.

The sides touched on cooperation between the Baltic and South Caucasus
countries, describing it as a three plus three formula.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for expanding
interparliamentary relations and implementing specific programmes.

The Lithuanian speaker also met Minister for Territorial
Administration Ovik Abramyan. During the meeting, the Armenian side
touched on Armenia’s commitments to the Council of Europe and noted
that Armenia has already fulfilled 90 per cent of them.

Abramyan stressed that mutual high-level visits are important to the
development of relations between Armenia and Lithuania.

[Passage omitted: The delegation of the Lithuanian parliament also
visited the Armenian genocide memorial]