EU-Azerbaijan visa agreement to be inked at Vilnius summit in late November
By Nigar Orujova
Baku hosted an official reception over the start of the Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 8.
Addressing the event, Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Arturas Zhurauskas noted that Lithuania presides the EU since July 1.
According to Zhurauskas, the priorities of Lithuania's presidency will be issues of digital programs, the Eastern Partnership program, defense and security.
Zhurauskas also said Lithuania during the next six months will focus its attention on the three measures required by Europe.
He said the first measure is the fostering of financial discipline as the primary condition of financial stability in the EU. The second indicator is the economic development of Europe. The third indicator is the openness of Europe, which is reflected in the preparations for the summit of the Eastern Partnership, the protection of external borders of the EU, effective control of borders and seeking ways of expansion.
Zhurauskas said that the main event that will take place during the Lithuanian presidency is the third Eastern Partnership summit, which will be held in Vilnius on November 28-29.
"Lithuania hopes to help achieve significant progress on a common goal for political cooperation and economic integration in the framework of the summit in Vilnius," Zhurauskas said.
Zhurauskas also noted that the Eastern Partnership will serve to strengthen the relations between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.
"The benefit to Azerbaijan from the Eastern Partnership initiative is very important for Lithuania. That is why our country plays the main role in shaping the policy of the Eastern Partnership," he said.
Zhurauskas said that the EU-Azerbaijan negotiations on visa facilitation are complete, and a relevant agreement is expected to be signed at the Vilnius summit.
"This agreement will enable Azerbaijani people to take the opportunity to travel to the EU. I hope that at the summit in Vilnius we will achieve forging more reliable cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU... Endless possibilities are expected to be achieved as a result of the relations between Azerbaijan and the EU. We believe in creating a firm foundation for development and prosperity," he said.