The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

implementing the powers of the Seimas as embedded in point 16 of Article 67 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania to consider issues of foreign policy;

following the universally recognised principles and norms of international law as defined in paragraph 1 of Article 135 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, in particular the principles of non-use of force and pacific settlement of international disputes, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;

emphasizing the strategic importance to the EU of Ukraine and the other states involved in the EU's Eastern Partnership and the necessity to ensure its continuity, enhancement and further implementation;

supporting Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the political association and economic integration with the EU and to seek EU membership in the future;

seeing that the Russian Federation has not yet implemented the Minsk agreements, while its continuous demonstration of military power poses a threat to the security of the whole of Europe;

having regard to Resolution on Threats from the Russian Federation to Security in Ukraine and Across Europe No XII-780 of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 13 March 2014, Resolution on the Situation in Ukraine No XII-858 of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 24 April 2014, Resolution on Ukraine's Commitments and Aspirations Towards European Union Integration of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 14 November 2013 and the progress reports on the implementation by Georgia and Ukraine of the action plans on visa liberalisation issued by the European Commission on 18 December 2015;

noting that the issue of extension of the sanctions against Russia will be on the agenda of the European Council held on 15-16 December 2016,

strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity;

stresses that the essential condition for restoring peace and stability in the eastern part of Ukraine is a full implementation of the Minsk agreements, in particular by ensuring real ceasefire and withdrawal of non-governmental forces from the territory of Ukraine;

recognizes that any attempt at this time to ease or lift sanctions against the Russian Federation would encourage the aggressive Russian policy and increase the threat to the security of Ukraine, Lithuania and the whole of Europe;

urges the EU Member States to extend sanctions against the Russian Federation until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements;

calls on the EU to establish a visa-free regime for Ukraine and Georgia as soon as possible;

encourages Ukraine to decisively combat corruption, to continue reforms in the areas of development of democracy and establishment of the rule of law as well as other reforms necessary for modernization of the country.

 

 

Speaker of the Seimas                                                                                            Viktoras Pranckietis