"Moldova is great at making profess and should be granted visa-free travels for the progress it has made," Linkevičius said at a meeting of chairmen of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) at the Lithuanian parliament on Monday.
In response to an inquiry about the perspective of the Eastern Partnership program, the minister said Moldova, Georgia and Armenia could technically finish their negotiations shortly, adding that Association Agreements with the three nations could be initiated.
"We can do everything possible to at least initiate the agreements," said the Lithuanian diplomacy chief.
Speaking about Ukraine's chances of signing the Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November, he stated Ukraine still "needs to address a number of various problems in connection to elections, transparency and post-election conflicts." On the other hand, Linkevičius said he has received signals about progress made in Ukraine.
"We urge Ukrainians to talk to their opposition rather than send them to prison. (…) The best way to prevent selective justice in the country is to release the ex-PM (Yulia Tymoshenko) from prison, as she is ill," the minister added.
In his words, the EU will be ready to sign the Association Agreement, if Ukraine is ready.
The COSAC meeting is held in Vilnius in the framework of the Lithuanian presidency over the EU Council.