By Murat Temizer
VILNIUS
Turkey, faced with grave security and humanitarian crises on its doorstep, is an example of stability, prosperity and democracy in the Middle East, said Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.
Grybauskaite in an interview with The Anadolu Agency, said that Turkey showed compassion and responsibility by providing shelter to more than a million Syrian refugees, and added that "resolving the crisis in Syria and fighting ISIL's terror requires greater political and security cooperation between regional actors and the international community."
She said that Turkey has been an important partner since the start of the Syrian conflict and its input is key to finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the region.
-- Turkey’s EU membership
According to Grybauskaite, Lithuania is supportive of EU enlargement, and explained that Lithuania always encourages acceding countries to implement reforms and continue negotiations while not losing their determination.
"I am glad that during Lithuania’s presidency of the EU Council, a new negotiation chapter with Turkey was opened. We also welcome the recent steps that Turkey has taken by reinvigorating its European Union strategy and ratifying the readmission agreement," she said.
Grybauskaite added that it is important to keep the momentum of closer ties between Turkey and the EU because Turkey’s integration will benefit both sides.
-- Lithuania’s EU membership
"The European Union membership process and accession to the EU was a lesson to Lithuania in itself," she said.
Lithuania had to implement a number of wide-reaching reforms for the membership such as improving its legal system to reinforce the rule of law and fight corruption, strengthen democratic institutions, open up the economy and advance standards across many sectors, ranging from agriculture to finance.
"The process was not simple. It required responsibility and willingness to work hard, both from politicians and society. But ultimately it made us stronger," she said.
"We learned that the reforms which led Lithuania to the EU were instrumental in creating a progressive and democratic state and that is the most important lesson of all," she added.
Lithuania is preparing to celebrate its 25th year of independence in 2015 from the Soviet Republic. It has been a member of the European Union for 10 years.
www.aa.com.tr/en
