Polish lower-house Speaker to discuss regional security in Lithuania
Poland’s lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia has embarked on a two-day visit to neighbouring Lithuania, aiming to discuss bilateral ties and regional security in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Szymon Hołownia.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
During the visit, his first official trip abroad, Hołownia plans to hold talks with officials including Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and parliamentary Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen.
Speaking to reporters before the trip, Hołownia said: „Given the current era of significant shifts, challenges and emerging forces in European politics, it’s imperative to foster robust diplomatic ties between our nations.”
He told public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency that „Poland needs to build a northern policy” by developing closer relations with the Baltic states and Nordic countries.
„The Baltic Sea is evolving into NATO’s internal domain, and we’re well aware of the threats posed by Russia,” Hołownia said. „Establishing genuine cooperation among countries in this region … is of paramount importance,” he added.
While in Vilnius, Hołownia will also meet with Poles living in Lithuania, the IAR news agency reported.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
