Minister Zbigniew Rau meets with chief of Lithuanian diplomacy
08.02.2021
Bilateral relations, the fight against the pandemic, joint anniversaries, the rights of national minorities, economic and regional cooperation, security, including energy security, and Eastern policy: these have been the most important topics of today’s bilateral talks between Minister Zbigniew Rau and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis.
“Relations between Poland and Lithuania are very good. We share similar views on many issues related to security, Eastern policy, strengthening transatlantic relations, selected issues on the EU agenda, and developing energy and transport cooperation. My thanks go to Minister Landsbergis for visiting Warsaw at the beginning of his term,” stressed Minister Zbigniew Rau.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the close cooperation between our countries in security, the fight against the pandemic, Eastern policy and the implementation of energy projects and energy security policy across the region. They also spoke about cooperation between Poland and Lithuania in the regional dimension, including through the Three Initiative, which contributes to the region’s development and enhanced security.
The ministers furthermore covered the joint celebration this year of the 230th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May and the Mutual Pledge of the Two Nations, as well as the 30th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between Poland and Lithuania in September. The ministers underlined their satisfaction with the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has not stopped the development of Polish-Lithuanian cultural cooperation and that the common legacy of the Commonwealth of the Two Nations has been a driver of closer multidimensional cooperation.
The ministers reaffirmed their interest in continuing cooperation on European affairs, where the two countries have similar positions on a number of issues. The Polish-Lithuanian talks also raised the situation of national minorities on both sides of the border. Minister Zbigniew Rau recalled the need to resolve the problems of the Polish national minority in Lithuania as regards its national legislation on protecting national minorities’ rights and ensuring the state of Polish education in Lithuania.
This was the first bilateral foreign visit by Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. It underlines the importance of mutual relations between the neighbours and reaffirms their strategic nature.
During his Warsaw visit, the chief of Lithuanian diplomacy also spoke with Elżbieta Witek, Speaker of the Sejm.
MFA Press Office
photos: Tymon Markowski / MFA
video: Gabriel Piętka / MFA
