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On 22-23 June, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Audra Plepytė, participated in the 56th session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Panama. During the visit, the Vice-Minister also met with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil and Uruguay.

When addressing the participants of the General Assembly, Plepytė stressed the importance of cooperation between Lithuania and the OAS in the areas of democracy, human rights, sustainable development, and regional security. She noted the growing strategic importance of Latin America and the Caribbean and Lithuania's goal of strengthening political and economic relations with countries of the region.

Plepytė pointed out the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine. "The ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, the large-scale loss of civilian lives and the destruction of the world heritage sites once again demonstrate the brutality of Russia's aggression and recall the urgent need for the international community to maintain strong support for Ukraine and to ensure  full accountability for Russia's war crimes," she said, calling on countries on the American continent to join the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

During the OAS General Assembly, Plepytė met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira. The meeting focused on bilateral relations between Lithuania and Brazil and prospects for their development. The head of Brazil's diplomacy thanked Lithuania for the establishment of an embassy in Brazil and stressed the importance of this step in strengthening ties between the two countries. Support for Ukraine and its aspirations for a just and sustainable peace were also discussed.

The Vice-Minister also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Mario Lubetkin. The meeting discussed opportunities to strengthen political and economic relations between Lithuania and Uruguay, as well as the wish to intensify a dialogue and economic cooperation between the European Union and Mercosur. Plepytė noted that Lithuania supports closer ties between the EU and the countries of the American continent and invited the Foreign Minister of Uruguay, who will soon take over the Mercosur Presidency, to visit Lithuania.

Lithuania has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 2009. The country has actively contributed to the organization's initiatives on democratic promotion, human rights protection, multidimensional security, and sustainable development on the American continent.