It looks as though Vilnius has taken over from Poland as Ukraine’s advocate in the European Union, as proved by the recent talks in Brussels between Lithuania’s Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas with the head of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. The Lithuanian prime minister says that he supports the idea of EU enlargement because it is in the interests of the European community to have good relations with neighboring countries that share the same values. He does not know when Ukraine will join the EU, but in this case it is much more important to support Ukraine on its way to Eurointegration. Therefore, Kirkilas has appealed to the EU to support Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who is arriving in Brussels this week for talks with European leaders.
“We must listen seriously to his declarations about Ukraine’s wish to enter the European Union,” reported Eurobserver, citing Lithuania’s prime minister, who met Yanukovych in Kyiv on Aug. 19. During their meeting the Lithuanian leader was convinced first-hand that Yanukovych is sincere in his aspirations for Ukraine’s integration into European structures.
Kirkilas also accentuated the need to include Turkey in the European community. “As a former defense minister, I cannot imagine what will happen to this country if it is refused membership in the EU,” he said, adding that a possible result may be a worsening of relations between the EU and Islamic countries. “Turkey is playing a very positive role now, despite certain problems. But we cannot say that we won’t accept Turkey only because it is an Islamic country. I think that would be wrong,” he said.
The Lithuanian prime minister also called on the EU to show more solidarity in its relations with Moscow and suggested that the European community conduct negotiations “with one voice” on the new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement that will regulate relations between Russia end the Eurocommunity after 2007. “If we act together, we will be much stronger,” said Kirkilas, who took part in the negotiations on Kaliningrad, during which the EU acted in concordance and led to successful results. Moscow had threatened to block NATO’s enlargement if Lithuania did not find a way to ensure uninterrupted supplies of Russian military production to Kaliningrad oblast, which is situated in the middle of EU member countries.
The 55-year old Lithuanian prime minister is well known for his frankness and keen understanding of the realities of tough European policies. “Lithuania is a small country and Russia is a big one, but our experience of relations with Russia is extensive, so we can share it with others.”
The Lithuanian prime minister also emphasized that it is important for the new agreement between the EU and Russia to be a part of European strategy, aimed at developing close relations with Europe’s eastern neighbors, and coordinated with Poland’s actions in support of Ukraine and Turkey’s membership in the EU.
