merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D. will today travel to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, to attend the Sixth Ministerial Conference of participating States within the ‘Community of Democracies’ which will take place on Friday, 1 July 2011. The Tánaiste said:

 "In the light of the extraordinary events shaking and shaping the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, it has never been as timely and appropriate to come together to assist emerging democracies and countries in transition."

The Tánaiste will also have separate meetings with the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Mr. Audronius Ažubalis and the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Mr. Andrius Kubilius. The Tánaiste said: 

"The relationship between Ireland and Lithuania will grow even closer in coming years. We are working together as part of the current Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Troika. Ireland will take over the Chairmanship-in-Office from Lithuania at the beginning of 2012. Ireland will then hold the EU Presidency in the first half of 2013, followed by Lithuania in the second half of the year.  These shared international commitments mean that Ireland and Lithuania will be working closely together over the next couple of years to achieve common goals.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the busy agenda ahead of us."