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Lithuania

 Flag of Lithuania

(Lietuvos Respublika)

Last reviewed: 11 August 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Lithuania's Relations with Neighbours

Lithuania's relations with Russia were normalised with the signing of the Agreement on the Foundations of Inter-State Relations on 29 July 1991. The withdrawal of Russian troops from Lithuanian territory was completed on 31 August 1993. The problem of civilian and military transit to and from the Russian region of Kaliningrad (now an ‘exclave') was resolved in early 1995. Negotiations over travel through Lithuania in the context of its EU membership resulted in the introduction of the Facilitated Rail Transit Document (FRTD) which generally seems to be working well. The British Government's policy is to help promote the civilian economic development of Kaliningrad, and to this end it has provided much assistance and advice.

An important step forward in relations with Russia was the signature of a border agreement on 24 October 1997. Lithuania was the first former Soviet republic to conclude such an agreement. The Lithuanian Parliament ratified the agreement in October 1999 and the Duma (Russian Parliament) ratified the agreement in 2003. In May 2003 Lithuania and Russia signed a re-admission agreement.

Citizenship and the treatment of ethnic minorities are much less contentious issues in Lithuania than in the other two Baltic States, where there are much larger Russian-speaking minorities. Lithuania has been held up by Russia as an example for the other Baltic States to follow. Citizenship (with no language requirement) was available to all residents at the time of independence, and most of the non-Lithuanian minority (c 20%) took it. There are periodic complaints about discrimination from elements in the Polish community, but the Polish government has maintained a cordial dialogue with Lithuania over this and other bilateral issues.

Lithuania has agreed its land borders with Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russia. The maritime border with Russia (Kaliningrad) remains undetermined. An agreement on the demarcation of the maritime border with Latvia was signed in July 1999.

The Baltic States have developed a wide network of co-operation. Inter-governmental co-operation is managed in the framework of the Baltic Council of Ministers. Heads of State and Government meet regularly - at least once a year. Co-operation focuses on areas such as trade, economic relations and EU/NATO integration.

Lithuania's Relations with the International Community

Lithuania's overriding foreign policy goal had been full membership of Western institutions. EU Accession negotiations began in 2002. A referendum on EU membership, held on 10 and 11 May 2003, yielded an overwhelming result in favour of accession, with just over 91% in support. Lithuania formally acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004.

Lithuania was invited to join NATO at the summit in Prague in November 2002. This completed several years of preparation for NATO membership, including participation in the Membership Action Plan (MAP) process. The path to membership had been set out at summits in Madrid in July 1997 and Washington in April 1999. Lithuania has participated enthusiastically in NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Since 1994, Lithuanian military personnel have participated in UNPROFOR, IFOR, SFOR, KFOR and EUFOR operations in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Lithuanian troops have also been engaged with MNF-I, OED and NTM-I in Iraq since 2003. In May 2005 Lithuania assumed responsibility for a multinational Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Ghowr Province of Afghanistan. Lithuania joined the OSCE in 1991 and has been an associate partner of the WEU since 1994.

Lithuania's relations with the UK

The UK never recognised de jure the Soviet annexation of 1940. Together with EU partners, we recognised Lithuania's restored independence on 27 August 1991. The British Embassy opened in Vilnius in October 1991 and new, owned premises were formally inaugurated in April 1994. Britain's relations with Lithuania remain close and friendly.

Cultural Relations with the UK

There is a bilateral group in the Lithuanian Parliament chaired by Birute Vesaite. The Lithuania All-Party Group in Parliament is co-chaired by Roger Berry, Paul Keetch and Lord Bowness. Sir Malcolm Rifkind is Honorary President of the British-Lithuanian Society.

Recent Visits

Inward

  • Lithuanian Defence Committee in March 2004
  • Ms Vilija Blinkeviciute (Labour Minister) in March 2005
  • Mr Valdas Adamkus (President) in July 2006
  • Dr Petras Vaitiekunas (Foreign Minister) in February 2007
  • Mr Gediminas Kirkilas (Prime Minister) in June 2007
  • Mr Valdas Adamkus (President) in February 2008
  • Mr Vygaudas Usackas (Foreign Minister) in March 2009

Outward

  • UK Parliament All Party Group in June 2004 and September 2006
  • Shadow Foreign Secretary Mr Michael Ancram in December 2003
  • The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Robert Finch, June 2004
  • Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (DTI), June 2004
  • Mr Ivor Chaplin (MOD) in January 2005
  • Baroness Symons (FCO), April 2005
  • Mr Ben Bradshaw (DEFRA), June 2005
  • Mr Douglas Alexander (Minister for Europe) June 2005
  • Dr Stephen Ladyman (DfT) August 2005
  • Baroness Ashton (DCA) August 2005
  • Mr Douglas Alexander (Minister for Europe) May 2006
  • State Visit by HMQ Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh October 2006
  • Margaret Beckett (Minister for Foreign Affairs) October 2006
  • UK Parliamentary Trade and Industry Select Committee May 2007
  • UK Parliament All Party Group in June 2004, September 2006 and September 2007
  • Mr Jonathan Shaw (DEFRA) September 2007
  • Mr Malcolm Wicks (BERR) October 2007 

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