YEREVAN. – Lithuania hopes that the new agreement between Armenia and the European Union will go further in the direction of convergence of both political and economic practices by creating more favorable conditions for all kinds of exchanges at all levels and sectors, Lithuanian official said.

Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrius Krivas has arrived in Yerevan for the meeting of the La Francophonie ministerial conference.

“We highly appreciate the initiative of the Armenian government to hold a regular ministerial conference. Lithuania has an observer status in the organization,” Deputy Minister told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Lithuania attaches great importance to cultural and humanitarian work of the organization, he added.

He stressed Lithuania’s support for a new document on cooperation between Armenia and the European Union. Promotion of Eastern Partnership program and Association Agreements was one of Lithuania’s priorities during the chairmanship of EU.

“Due to various reasons, Armenia chose other way, but the work on Association Agreement was not in vain. Both EU and Armenia have a mutual interest in development of cooperation in different areas. Part of this cooperation is concentrated in a multilateral framework – the EU plus all six Eastern Partnership countries or a part of them, and the other part of this cooperation is related to the bilateral relations between Armenia and the European Union. Therefore, we support seeking the ways and opportunities that exist for mutual cooperation,” the Lithuanian official said.

Lithuania also supported what the EU called “scoping exercise” – exploring the possibilities of deepening cooperation between the EU and Armenia, without prejudice to other international obligations of the parties.

“We believe that Armenia is a European country, and has a European future. And those complex international problems that Armenia is faced with today will be resolved by joint efforts of the European and world communities. Lithuania, as a member state of the EU, is committed to be actively involved in this process,” he emphasized.