Press Releases

Lithuania passes Presidency of the Community of Democracies over to Mongolia

Thursday, June 30, Vilnius - President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė had a meeting with Mongolia's President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, whose country is taking over Presidency of the Community of Democracies from Lithuania tomorrow. The Mongolian President is among the participants of the high-level conference ‘Women Enhancing Democracy: Best Practices' taking place on the initiative of the Lithuanian President.

The two Presidents discussed the priorities and works to be continued by the new Presidency of the Community of Democracies. The President of Lithuania said Lithuania successfully invigorated this structure and Mongolia would now take the responsibility to continue activities started by its predecessor in mobilizing democratic states for closer cooperation to consolidate shared values throughout the world, particularly in the Asian region.

"The Community of Democracies established 11 years ago has acquired a new impetus under the Lithuanian Presidency. Mongolia has an important mission to fulfill: to preserve Lithuania's achievements and seek new ambitious goals," President Dalia Grybauskaitė said during the meeting.

Reform of the Community of Democracies, democracy education, support to civic society, consolidation of the freedom of press and women empowerment in a democratic society - these were the central priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Community of Democracies, the President said.

The Lithuanian and Mongolian heads of state also discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation and the possibility to memorialize Lithuanians exiled to Mongolia in the forties and fifties to lay a railway line from Ulan Ude to Ulan Bator.

According to the President, the current Lithuanian Presidency of OSCE supports Mongolia's aspirations to become a full-fledged member of this organization and highly appreciates Mongolia's efforts to promote democratic values, freedoms and human rights.