Memo of European integration partnership and cooperation to be signed in Baku: Lithuanian FM

"During my visit to Baku the Memorandum of Partnership and cooperation in the field of European integration will be signed," Ušackas wrote in an exclusive interview with Trend News.

A range of issues relating to political, economic and energy spheres will be discussed during Lithuanian Foreign Minister's visit to Azerbaijan on Apr. 8-9, Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kestutis Kudzmanas told Trend News. The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by a delegation comprising representatives of ministries and departments, as well as leading companies of Lithuania. A business forum will be held during the visit.

Ušackas said that Lithuania is prepared to contribute to the adopting and implementing European standards for political, institutional and economic reforms of Azerbaijan, strengthening public administration. The country is prepared to share its experience in the reform process and training of the state officials in the field of European integration, facilitate people-to-people contacts as an important condition for a steady development of political, economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties.

The two countries had already had examples of such interaction The Office of Lithuania's Parliament and Special Investigation Service cooperated with the Azerbaijani Parliament and Anti-Corruption Office with the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan as part of European projects, he said.

Lithuania welcomes European Council's decision to adopt an ambitious Eastern Partnership initiative. It is also the result of Lithuania's purposeful policy and efforts in the EU, he said.

The Eastern Partnership program envisages EU's closer cooperation with 6 former Soviet countries - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia and Belarus.

The organization will host talks on a visa-free regime, free trade zones and strategic accords, and implement small student-exchange, environmental-preservation and energy-supply projects.

"The initiative is important for both Lithuania's and Azerbaijan's economic and political interests, and it should open up additional prospects for the development of business, movement of goods, services and people," Ušackas said.

/Trend News/