Lithuanian president discusses regional security with Poland’s foreign minister

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday discussed the issues of illegal migration and regional security with Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.

The president and the Polish minister, currently on a visit to Lithuania, discussed cooperation between Lithuania and Poland in countering the hybrid attack by the Belarus regime and controlling illegal migration flows, the presidential office said in a press release.

“The president noted that the situation on the Polish-Lithuanian border with Belarus implied a need to adjust the migration, asylum, and border protection policies of the EU and invited the national authorities in charge to actively cooperate in order to achieve the changes, needed for the entire EU,” the press release said.

Nauseda stressed that cooperation between Lithuania and Poland in addressing the security challenges of the region was crucial in the current context with the military exercise Zapad 2021 taking place at the borders of the countries.

He also expressed his gratitude to Poland for its assistance and mediation in carrying out the evacuation mission from Afghanistan and underlined his appreciation for cooperation in defense.

At the meeting, some time was also dedicated to the issues of the Polish national minority in Lithuania and the Lithuanian national minority in Poland, noting very positive dynamics observed in this area in recent years.