Yesterday in Lutsk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Artūras Paulauskas, and the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, signed a Joint Statement on the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland. The statement, in particular, says: "Highly appreciating the relations and cooperation between Ukraine, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland, attaching importance to the further development of dialogue between them and the coordination of efforts at the parliamentary level, striving to increase the contribution of our states to deepening regional cooperation, aware of the need for joint actions in the implementation of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration plans, we initiate the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland. This consultative body will become a form of cooperation among parliamentarians of the three states, consideration of issues of interest to all parties, with the preparation of common conclusions and recommendations. The composition, competence and principles of activity of the Assembly will be determined by the Statute, which will be adopted at its founding session to be held in 2005 in Kyiv."
A one-day working visit of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko to the Republic of Lithuania is scheduled for May 15. The visit program provides for negotiations between V. Yushchenko and his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus. In particular, the agenda of the meeting includes issues of intensifying political dialogue - the work of bilateral consultative bodies, primarily the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania, the Intergovernmental Council on Cooperation, the Assembly of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Seimas of Lithuania, which are called upon to ensure an effective level of interaction between all branches of power of the two countries. During the visit, it is also planned to discuss ways to maintain the positive dynamics of trade, economic and investment cooperation, issues of liberalizing the visa regime and developing humanitarian relations. Special attention will be devoted to interaction in the implementation of Ukraine's European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the search for concrete forms of cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats in order to accelerate Ukraine's progress toward achieving its foreign policy priorities. The Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania will address the participants of the international conference "The Future of Eastern Europe: States, Nations, Societies and People." On the same day, President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko will depart for Warsaw, where he will take part in the Third Summit of Heads of State of the Council of Europe. Inf. from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.