Foreign relations of Lithuania

Lithuania
Coat of arms of Lithuania
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Lithuania became a member of the United Nations on September 18, 1991, and is a signatory to a number of its organizations and other international agreements. It is also a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,[1] NATO and its adjunct North Atlantic Coordinating Council, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization on May 31, 2001. It also seeks membership in the OECD and other Western organizations.

Lithuania maintains foreign diplomatic missions in 94 countries on six continents and consular posts in two countries that are not represented by an embassy. Lithuania's liberal "zero-option" citizenship law has substantially erased tensions with its neighbors. Lithuania's suspension of two strongly ethnic Polish district councils on charges of blocking reform or disloyalty during the August 1991 coup had cooled relations with Poland, but bilateral cooperation markedly increased with the holding of elections in those districts and the signing of a bilateral Friendship Treaty in 1994. Although a similar bilateral friendship agreement was signed with Belarus in 1995, Lithuania has joined the United States and other European nations in urging the Government of Belarus to adopt democratic and economic reforms.

Lithuania has established diplomatic relations with 176 countries.[2]

Disputes

Latvia

Russia

Baltic Sea region states

Lithuania is in warm and good relations with Estonia. Latvia takes the 1st place on the list of Lithuanian investments abroad.[7]

Denmark

Further information: Denmark-Lithuania relations

Estonia

Further information: Foreign relations of Estonia

Finland

Further information: Foreign relations of Finland

Germany

Further information: Foreign relations of Germany

Latvia

Diplomatic relations established: 1991-10-05

Poland

Lithuania concluded the treaty of friendship with Poland in April 1994. However, disagreements over Lithuania's implementation of the treaty have soured relations and cooperation on energy issues and Lithuania remains unconnected to the Polish electricity grid and the countries are not connected by a non-Russian-controlled gas pipeline, as previous promises to do both have been stalled by the row over the friendship treaty.

Lithuania as a part of the Northern Europe region

Lithuania is also an active member in the cooperation between Northern Europe countries. Lithuania is a member of Baltic Council, since its establishment in 1993. Baltic Council is a permanent organisation of international cooperation, located in Tallinn. It operates through the Baltic Assembly and Baltic Council of Ministers.

Lithuania also cooperates with Nordic and other two Baltic countries through NB8 cooperation format. The similar format, called NB6 unites Nordic and Baltic countries members of EU. The main goal of NB6 cooperation is to discuss and agree on positions before presenting them in the Council of the European Union and the meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers.

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was established in 1992 in Copenhagen as an informal regional political forum, which main aim is to promote integration process and to affiliate close contacts between the countries of the region. The members of CBSS are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden and European Commission. The observer states are Belarus, France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, United States, United Kingdom, Ukraine.

The cooperation between the Nordic Council of Ministers and Lithuania is a political cooperation through which experience exchange contributes to realization of joint goals. One of its most important functions is to discover new trends and new possibilities for joint cooperation. The information office aims to represent Nordic concepts and demonstrate Nordic cooperation in Lithuania.

Lithuania, together with other two Baltic countries, is also a member of Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and cooperates in NORDPLUS programme committed to education.[11]

Baltic Development Forum (BDF) is an independent nonprofit organization which unites large companies, cities, business associations and institutions in the Baltic Sea region. In 2010 the 12th Summit of the BDF was held in Vilnius.[12]

Europe - other

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Austria 1991-08-28
 Belarus 1992-12-30
  • Belarus has an embassy in Vilnius.[14]
  • Lithuania has an embassy in Minsk[15] and a general consulate in Hrodna.[16]
  • Both countries shares 680 km of common border.
 BulgariaSee Bulgaria–Lithuania relations
 Croatia 1992-03-18See Foreign relations of Croatia
 Czech RepublicSee Foreign relations of the Czech Republic
 FranceSee Foreign relations of France
 GeorgiaSee Foreign relations of Georgia
 GreeceSee Foreign relations of Greece
 Holy SeeSee Foreign relations of the Holy See
 HungarySee Foreign relations of Hungary
 Iceland 1991-08-26 See Iceland–Lithuania relations
  • Iceland was the first country which recognised Lithuania's Independence from the USSR on January 11, 1991.[18]
 IrelandSee Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland
 ItalySee Foreign relations of Italy
 Kosovo 2008-07-16 See Kosovan–Lithuanian relations
  • Lithuania recognized Kosovo on 6 May 2008.[19] Diplomatic relations commenced on 16 July 2008.[20]
 Malta
 Romania1924-08-26See Lithuania–Romania relations
 Serbia2000-12-14
 Slovakia1993
 UkraineSee Lithuania–Ukraine relations
 United Kingdom1991-10See Lithuania – United Kingdom relations

Asia

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia
 Azerbaijan 1995-11-27
 India
  • India has an Honorary Consulate in Vilnius
  • Lithuania has an embassy in New Delhi and an Honorary Consulate in Mumbai, India.
 IsraelSee Israel–Lithuania relations

Israel recognized Lithuania’s independence in 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relation in 1992. Israel is represented in Lithuania through its embassy in Vilnius (previously through its embassy in Riga, Latvia). Lithuania has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 2 honorary consulates (in Herzliya and Ramat Gan).

 JapanSee Japan–Lithuania relations

Relations between Lithuania and Japan started on December 20, 1922, when Lithuania was recognized by Japan de jure.[30][31] In 1939 the Consulate of Japan, headed by vice-consul Chiune Sugihara, was opened in Kaunas. It was closed in 1940 when Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union. On September 6, 1991, Japan recognized the independence of the Republic of Lithuania from USSR and on October 10, Diplomatic relations were restored. In 1997, Embassy of Japan was established in Lithuania, in 1998, Embassy of Lithuania was established in Japan. In 2006 May, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Aso visited Lithuania, and Kirkilas, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, visited Japan just three months later. Bilateral relations were strengthen by the official state visit of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 2007 May.[32]

 Kazakhstan
 Malaysia1994See Lithuania–Malaysia relations

Lithuania has an honorary consulate in Kuala Lumpur,[35] while Malaysia embassy in Stockholm were also accredited to Lithuania.

 Pakistan
 People's Republic of China1991-09-14See People's Republic of China-Lithuania relations

PR China has an embassy in Vilnius. Lithuania has an embassy in Beijing. In 1992, Embassy of China was established in Vilnius, in 1995, Embassy of Lithuania was established in Beijing.

 North KoreaSee Foreign relations of North Korea
 South KoreaOctober 1991[36]See Lithuania–South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the South Korea and Lithuania began on October 1991.
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 216,000,000 USD
    • Imports 50,000,000 USD
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • South Korea's Investment in Lithuania 3,340,000 USD
    • Lithuania's Investment in South Korea 145,000 USD
  • According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade there are as few as 41 South Koreans living in Lithuania.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Vilnius.
  • Lithuania has an embassy in Seoul.[36][37]

North America

Canada

Further information: Foreign relations of Canada

United States

In 1998, the United States signed a "Charter of Partnership" with Lithuania and the other Baltic countries establishing bilateral working groups focusing on improving regional security, defense, and economic issues.

Lithuania has friendly relations with and support from the United States, who never recognized their forced incorporation into the Soviet Union. Since the fall of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, the United States and Lithuania have maintained strong economic and military ties, and the efforts of Lithuanian-Americans are said to have been an important factor both in restoring Lithuania's independence and in her admittance to NATO in 2004.[38] Then-President George W. Bush visited Lithuania in November 2002[39] and again in February 2007,[40] and expressed pride in Lithuania's determined commitment to democracy over the last two decades.[41]

Issues

Illicit drug trafficking

Lithuania has been a trans-shipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Russia, Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia.[42]

Anti-terrorism

Lithuania is a signatory to 8 of the 12 International Conventions related to counter- terrorist activities[43]

Human trafficking

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that about 1,000 citizens of Lithuania fall victim to trafficking annually. Most are women between the ages of 21 and 30 who are sold into prostitution[44]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lithuania's Leadership of the OSCE: Hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, February 16, 2011
  2. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "List of countries with which Lithuania has established diplomatic relations". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Lithuania in 2005". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Russian arrest of an officer accused of spying for Lithuania
  5. ↑ (Russian) (Lithuanian) Embassy of Lithuania in Moscow
  6. ↑ (Russian) (Lithuanian) Embassy of Russia in Vilnius
  7. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  10. ↑ (Polish) Informacje o Polsce - informacje ogólne. Page gives Polish PWN Encyklopedia as reference.
  11. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. . Retrieved on 03 April 2012.
  12. ↑ Baltic Development Forum. . Retrieved on 03 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "LR ambasada Austrijos Respublikoje". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Belarusian embassy in Vilnius
  15. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  16. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Bulgarian embassy in Vilnius
  18. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Seimas nutarė pripažinti Kosovo Respublikos nepriklausomybę (Seimas recognizes Republic of Kosovo's independence)". Parliament (Seimas) official proceedings (in Lithuanian). 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  20. ↑ "Vyriausybė užmegs diplomatinius santykius su Kosovu". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). Vilnius, Lithuania: Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija. (Lithuanian national radio and television).
  21. ↑ "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  22. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  24. ↑ Romanian embassy in Vilnius
  25. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "LR AMBASADA UKRAINOJE". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Посольство України в Литовській Республіці". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "UK and Lithuania". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  29. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  30. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "LR AMBASADA JAPONIJOJE IR FILIPINŲ RESPUBLIKAI, AUSTRALIJOS SANDRAUGAI, NAUJAJAI ZELANDIJAI". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "Japan's Emperor Akihit, Empress Michiko visit Lithuania". International Herald Tribune. 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  33. ↑ Kazakh embassy in Vilnius
  34. ↑ Dizaino Kryptis. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "HONORARY CONSULATE OF LITHUANIA" (PDF). Honorary Consulate of Lithuania, Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  36. 1 2 http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070823/1_24621.jsp?menu=m_30_40
  37. ↑
  38. ↑ "Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America and to the United Mexican States: Lithuanian-US Political Relations". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  39. ↑ "President's Visit to Eastern Europe and Russia: Nov. 19-23, 2002". 21 December 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  40. ↑ "U.S. - Lithuania Relations - Embassy of the United States Vilnius, Lithuania". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  41. ↑ "Bush Interview by Lithuanian State Television - Embassy of the United States Vilnius, Lithuania". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  42. ↑ Drug issues in the Baltics
  43. ↑ "Internet / Home - INTERPOL" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  44. ↑ Human Trafficking in the Baltics
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