Ukraine and Lithuania are marking the 25th anniversary of its diplomatic relations since the moment when the two countries turned a new page in bilateral cooperation, sharing deep historical roots.
”A quarter century of intergovernmental relations, which has passed since the opening of diplomatic missions in Kyiv in 1992 and in Vilnius in 1993, was filled with not only traditional elements of interstate communication – conducting numerous visits at various levels, expansion of the bilateral legal base of cooperation – but also with the establishment of new forms and instruments of economic cooperation, strengthening ties between regions and twin-cities, active cooperation in the fields of culture and arts, education and science, health and sports,” the Ukrainian president`s press service said on Monday quoting President Petro Poroshenko and his Lithuanian counterpart Dalia Grybauskaite as saying.
”A special input to the strengthening of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian relations was made by both the Ukrainians living in Lithuania and the Lithuanians living in Ukraine,” the two presidents said in a joint statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary.
Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania have officially gained the level of strategic partnership.
”Our states have been demonstrating a permanently high dynamics of political dialogue, effective practical interaction in political, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, active cooperation on the issues of implementing the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, and Ukraine`s course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” the two presidents said.
They also condemned the temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol – by the Russian Federation and its aggression in Donbas.
”We call on the international community to continue active political, diplomatic and other efforts for restoring Ukraine`s territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders in the interest of stability and security of the entire Europe,” the two presidents said.
