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On 20 April, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius took part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. The Council agenda was adjusted due to the Mediterranean shipwreck this weekend, when several hundred refugees drowned on route to Europe.

At the meeting, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister said: “What is happening off the coast of Lampedusa is a great disaster. This year alone the number of the refugees who died is as big as the number of victims of the Titanic tragedy. International criminals, human traffickers   carry out crimes against humanity. It is important not only to ensure that assistance is provided to refugees in distress, but also to fight those who are risking lives by illegal transportation of refugees. It is not enough to merely protect state borders to avoid immigrants, a wave of war refugees, to be more precise. We have to deal with the root causes and they are currently in the territory of Libya. The involvement of all international institutions is necessary. We believe that we must discuss the issue at the UN Security Council.”

At the meeting, Lithuania announced its support for and solidarity with Italy, which currently has the highest burden of illegal migration. “Lithuania will not remain on the sidelines, but rather will look for a way to contribute to the international efforts to address the challenges and the consequence of  migration,” noted Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

 

For more information on the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, please read here:  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2015/04/20/