Lithuanian Foreign Minister: Eastern Partnership countries must be comfortable with their relations with EU

Linas Linkevičius, the foreign minister of Lithuania, says it is important for countries of the EU Eastern Partnership program to feel comfortable after the European Parliament (EP) expressed support to countries pressured by Russia.
Linas Linkevičius
Linas Linkevičius / Juliaus Kalinsko/15min.lt nuotr.

"What is most important is that our partners feel comfortable. They have different expectations – some want to join the European Union, others just want to be near-by. Europe will be able to provide as much support, as the partners want to receive," Linkevičius told BNS at an EP plenary in Strasbourg earlier this week.

On Thursday, the EP adopted a resolution, urging Russia to respect the right of EU's Eastern neighbors to decide about their EU integration. MEPs stated that sanctions imposed by Russia on Ukraine and Moldova, as well as threats to undermine Armenia's security, are unacceptable.

Linkevičius said it is important to give the countries a free choice. "We never shoved our union and will never do it, however, our reaction is sensitive to seeing when countries are not allowed to choose. A country has chosen its path, a path of free trade and was subjected to threats, economic threats and political pressure," Linkevičius said.

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