Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shahin received Lithuanian Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shahin received Lithuanian Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shahin received Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Wednesday, where they discussed the latest political and humanitarian developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the economic, development, and digital sectors. Both sides underscored the importance of expanding institutional partnerships, exchanging expertise, and fostering investment opportunities.

Minister Shahin expressed appreciation for Lithuania's political, humanitarian, and development support to the Palestinian people, including its support for UNRWA and Palestinian institution-building efforts. She briefed her counterpart on the catastrophic situation in Gaza and the escalating Israeli measures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, marked by settlement expansion, settler violence, annexation policies, and forced displacement that seriously undermine prospects for peace.

She stressed the need for the European Union to take more concrete and effective measures to compel Israel to comply with international law, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and preserve the viability of the two-State solution. She further reiterated that lasting peace and security can only be achieved through ending the Israeli occupation and realizing an independent Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. In this context, she called on Lithuania to recognize the State of Palestine as an essential step toward safeguarding the two-State solution and advancing a just and lasting peace.

For his part, Minister Budrys reaffirmed Lithuania's commitment to the two-State solution, voiced concern over developments on the ground and continued settlement expansion, and stressed his country's support for enhancing Palestine-EU economic cooperation in pursuit of peace, security, and stability in the region.