In the European integration process, everything is in the hands of the people and the state.  A united society is needed for covering this path, the Ambassador of Lithuania in Chisinau Rimantas Latakas said in the public debate “Moldova after Vilnius and Riga: opportunities and challenges for the next destination”, which was organized by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.

The diplomat noted that in the European integration process, everything depends on the people of the Republic of Moldova. The same happened in his country when the Lithuanians understood that nobody except them will do something for Lithuania to become a member of the European Union.

“We understood that if we had a state towards which we tended – a state that we didn’t forget while we formed part of the Soviet Union - we must bear responsibility for this country,” stated Rimantas Latakas.

He also said that an agreement on the foreign policy between parties was signed in Lithuania in 1995. This provided that the country orients itself to the EU and NATO. This accord helped Lithuania to become an EU member state in 2004 already.

Rimantas Latakas noted that all the people contributed to the European integration process because everyone agreed that Lithuania had to follow the path to the EU. According to surveys, the Lithuanians continue to be the most pro-European among the EU citizens.

The public debate entitled “Moldova after Vilnius and Riga: opportunities and challenges for the next destination” is the 56th installment of the series “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged with the support of the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.