Issues relevant for Lithuania and the world discussed at the President's meetings in New York
The striving for peace in the Middle East and the perspectives for Palestinian statehood became the main topics of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
According to the President, the European Union and the United States have to use joint efforts to evoke direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel. The US President also underlined that making peace was a difficult task requiring the endeavors of all parties.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė and President Heinz Fischer of Austria talked about the circumstances of the detention and release of Mikhail Golovatov, a suspect in the January 13th case, and the necessity to waive the exceptions of application of the European Arrest Warrant. The Presidents agreed that it was imperative to find a common solution to avoid similar situations in the future.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė and President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine talked about the forthcoming meeting of the leaders of the European Union and Eastern Partnership in Warsaw where the prospects of closer contacts between the EU and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus would be addressed.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė and President Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan touched on the presidential elections to be held at the end of October in Kyrgyzstan under the OSCE supervision. Democratic elections is a key priority for Lithuania who chairs the OSCE.
The formation of a governing coalition in Latvia was the topic discussed with President Andris Bėrzins.
The continuity of chairmanship of the Community of Democracies, taken over from Lithuania by Mongolia in July, was in the focus of discussions with President Tsakhia Elbegdorj of Mongolia.
The President and Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, discussed the economic situation in Europe which will also be on the agenda of the European Council meeting in mid October.
In the UN Headquarters, the President also met with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia.
At the General Debate of the UN General Assembly attended by the heads of state from 193 countries, the President will share the experience gained by Lithuania in mediation and present proposals for improving international nuclear safety standards. She will also put forward arguments in support of Lithuania as it prepares to run for the UN Security Council's non-permanent seat for the period 2014-2015.
Lithuania's proposals for enhancing international nuclear safety standards will also be presented by the President at the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security to be held at the initiative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
