We highly appreciate the long-lasting commitment demonstrated by Lithuania towards Georgia, -Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze said at a joint news conference after today’s meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.

“It is symbolic that our visit coincides with 25th Anniversary of diplomatic relations existing between Georgia and Lithuania. Nevertheless, our nations did not actually start interaction a quarter of a century ago, but pride themselves with a much longer history of relations involving centuries in the past.

One may say without exaggeration that Lithuania is the closest ally and friend of Georgia. Our special relations are evidenced by the milestones celebrated last year - 100th Anniversary from the establishment of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia and 100th Anniversary of Regained Statehood of Lithuania. Besides, our nations are now referred to by their authentic names - Sakartvelo and Lithuania.

We have said it many times and I wish to once again confirm that we highly appreciate the long-lasting commitment demonstrated by Lithuania towards Georgia. Our cooperation and political dialogue is getting stronger and deeper by years. I wish to note with pleasure that potential of our cooperation is much higher and respectively, we are working towards finding new opportunities. Lithuania is actively trying to share its experience within the scope of Development Cooperation and EU Twinning Projects to assists us in the implementation of our reforms.

I talked with my colleague at the meeting today on the prospects of deepened economic relations. We reviewed significant regional projects in the energy and transport sectors. Their joint implementation will facilitate the boosted transit potential of the country and exposure to new markets.

Trade volumes have been increasing over the past years between the two countries. Number of visitors to Georgia has also been doubled, which greatly resulted from the direct flights between Vilnius and Kutaisi. I am confident that it will facilitate the activation of trade and economic relations, and will further deepen business contacts.

It is gratifying that international and cultural relations are getting deeper, especially among our youth. More Georgian students tend to choose your universities for their degree education. Currently, almost 200 students are admitted by your higher education institutions, who may benefit of the government scholarships allocated by the Government of Lithuania. I wish to once again express my gratitude for this to the authorities of the Republic of Lithuania.

At the same time, I requested my colleague to start an active cooperation on yet another significant reform. Lithuania is considered as one of the most successful state in terms of support provided to start-ups and creation of a business environment to encourage start-ups. Georgia is making first steps towards this end and it is very important for us to share the experience of our friendly nation in this field.

Apart from the bilateral relations, key part of our meeting today was dedicated to the progress achieved towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, characterized with truly unprecedented dynamics. I wish to use this opportunity and thank my colleague on behalf of the Government of Georgia for the extraordinary contribution made in success of Georgia towards the European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

We are creating new formats of EU cooperation, which will give a greater impulse to Georgia towards European integration and will create new opportunities. Our goal is to become most possible compatible with EU, thus opening new prospects of greater integration for our country. That is the purpose of the EU-Georgia Membership Roadmap, which will be presented to our European friends in the nearest future.

This year is also special, as we are celebrating 10th Anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in 2019. We talked at the meeting on the significance of deepened cooperation of our countries within the scope of Eastern Partnership.

We noted at the meeting today that Georgia has achieved a progress towards accession into the Alliance, successful democratic transformation of our country and unprecedented level of practical cooperation with NATO. We also noted that Georgia has all the practical mechanisms for a fully-fledged membership into NATO.

I wish to once again express my gratitude to the Lithuanian authorities for their solid support of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, along with the efforts directed at the strengthened non-recognition policy of the occupied territories of Georgia.

We discussed the heavy results of occupation by Russia and steps made towards annexation. We talked about the deteriorated situation in Abkhazian and Tskhinvali regions, permanent violations of human rights and existing humanitarian disaster in the occupied territories of the country.

Georgia has received a tremendous support from the international community in the past ten years towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Georgia will succeed in achieving peace and stability only through a solid and consistent efforts of the international community.

Prime Minister, I wish to once again express my gratitude for hosting me and Georgian delegation. I am convinced that our meeting today will give a positive impulse to the implementation of new initiatives and relations between our countries,” PM Mamuka Bakhtadze said.