New Foreign Minister of Lithuania Plans to Cooperate with Belarusian Authorities and Opposition

Lithuania`s newly appointed minister has announced plans to cooperate with both the Belarusian authorities and the country’s opposition.

Minister Audronius Azubalis said in an interview with Russia`s RIA Novosti last week that he viewed Lithuanian-Belarusian relations as a road with two parallel lanes – support for the pro-democratic opposition and contacts with Minsk.

He said that he wanted the two lanes to "become one" at some point in the future.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on January 29 signed a decree appointing Audronius Azubalis as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

52-year-old Azubalis replaced Vygaudas Usackas who resigned on January 21 after Ms. Grybauskaite publicly announced that she had lost confidence in him.