"We are in favor of continuing negotiations [between Israelis and Palestinians] and not in favor of unilateral decisions," Kubilius has told a group of visiting Israeli journalists, cited by the online version of the Jerusalem Post.
Lithuania was among a small minority of 14 nations that opposed the Palestinian bid for membership at the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last fall. 107 countries voted in favor of Palestine's membership, strongly opposed by the United States and Israel; 52 countries abstained.
Kubilius said Lithuania was glad about ongoing successful development of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Israel in the areas of trade, investment and pharmaceuticals. He also expressed delight over a growing number of Israeli tourists coming to Lithuania. 10,000 Israelis visited Lithuania last year.
Talking about the killing of Jews during World War Two in Lithuania, the prime minister said that "Jewish people suffered a huge tragedy here in Lithuania during the Holocaust. It is shameful that some Lithuanians took part in these atrocities."
Kubilius noted that his country had recently passed a law to compensate the Jewish community for its property losses.