Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius (L) and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (R): photo - PAP/Jakub Kaminski
“Disagreements and misunderstandings should be consigned to the past,” affirmed new Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, at a joint press conference, as cited by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Linkevicius, who represents the newly empowered centre-left coalition of Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, said that the countries should “draw closer to each other – not just institutions, but nations too.”
Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski responded that “we are very glad about the declaration of the new Lithuanian government and its will to come to an understanding and join in close cooperation.
“We are ready to develop warm neighbourly relations,” he said.
Warsaw had been at odds with the previous, centre-right Lithuanian government of Andrius Kubilius (which lost the October general elections) owing to issues relating to the Polish minority in Lithuania.
Problems included reforms that weakened the autonomy of Polish and other minority schools – in the form of compulsory examinations in Lithuanian in several subjects - as well as disagreements about whether ethnic Poles should be entitled to use Polish spelling in official documents. Similarly, the Polish minority has been campaigning for bi-lingual street signs in areas with significant Polish communities.
Linkevicius said on Thursday that a committee will be created in Lithuania to address the questions of national minorities.
Sikorski offers Lithuania gas link
Minister Sikorski also invited Poland to take advantage of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal that is being built at at Swinoujscie on the Baltic coast.
The investment, which is set to be completed in 2014, is part of Poland's ongoing bid to diversify its gas supplies, which are currently dependent on Russia.
“I put an offer on the table – the possibility to connect Lithuania, and through it all the Baltic states, to the Polish gas network, “ Sikorski said.
Poles in the Lithuanian government
Lithuania's Polish minority party, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, gained an unprecedented foothold in national politics following the October general elections.
The party was invited to join the new coalition of Social Democrat Prime Miinister Algirdas Butkevicius, after winning over 5 percent of the vote in the election.
Butkevicius' principal partners are the Labour party and the Order and Justice Party.
However, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania has managed to secure an unprecedented position, with one minister (Energy Minister Jaroslaw Niewierowicz), a deputy speaker and five deputy ministers. (nh)
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