Yushchenko, Adamkus discuss bilateral relations between Ukraine, Lithuania

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Ukrainian and Lithuanian Presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Valdas Adamkus discussed a whole range of bilateral relations during an extended meeting on Tuesday, according to the presidential press service.

Particular attention during their meeting was paid to cooperation in the energy sector. The presidents discussed the further process of creating the Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian energy space in the context of decisions taken at a summit in Baku on November 14, 2008. Moreover, Yushchenko and Adamkus also considered the possible long-term export of electricity from Ukraine to Lithuania. In this connection, they discussed the formation of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian working group on energy issues, which is to draft and implement joint projects.

The presidents also focused on cooperation in the trade and economic sector, noting that trade between Ukraine and Lithuania for the first time hit USD 1 billion over the nine months of 2008.

They also spoke about cooperation in scientific-technical and humanitarian areas.

The leaders of the two states also paid significant attention to possible cooperation in the process of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. In particular, the presidents exchanged views on the new initiatives by the European Union, also known as the "Eastern Partnership."

The topic for the presidents' thorough discussion was the outcome of a meeting of the NATO foreign ministers. Yushchenko thanked Adamkus for Lithuania's sincere and consistent assistance to Ukraine in its path to joining the European Union and NATO.

The presidents also analyzed topical problems and prospects for the development of the international situation.

The Ukrainian president thanked his Lithuanian colleague and the Lithuanian people for their solidarity with the Ukrainian people in honoring the memory of the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.

Yushchenko thanked Adamkus for supporting his initiative to build a monument to great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in Vilnius.

Yushchenko also invited Adamkus to pay a visit to Ukraine.

UKRINFORM