“The Lithuanians don't forget that it was the Republic of Moldova that was the first country to recognize their independence”, declared Andrius Kubilius, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, at a meeting with the Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca. The Lithuanian premier said it was necessary to fully exploit the mutual affection existing between the two countries. Speaking about his visit to Lithuania at a press briefing on Saturday, Iurie Leanca said the discussions with the Lithuanian prime minister centered on the bilateral cooperation, with a focus on Moldova's European aspiration and the extension of the Lithuanian support to our country. Andrius Kubilius underlined that this year it's 20 years since Lithuania proclaimed its independence and the Lithuanians don't forget that it was Moldova that was the first country to recognize its independence. In the same context, Iurie Leanca observed that the dignity and the courage that Lithuania showed in historic moments served as an example for other countries as well, including Moldova. He thanked the Lithuanian authorities for the support offered to our country in promoting domestic reforms and advancing on the path of European integration. The interlocutors also discussed the general frame of the official visit to Chisinau that the Lithuanian prime minister plans to make during January 26-27. It was also announced that a Lithuanian parliamentary delegation will soon come to Chisinau, as a result of Leanca's meeting with Ceslovas Jursenas, the deputy speaker of the Lithuanian parliament. The bilateral meetings took place during the participation of the Moldovan foreign minister in an informal summit dubbed the Snow Meeting, organized by the Lithuanian MFA in Trakai. The Snow Meeting brought together foreign ministers from northern, central and western Europe as well as opinion shapers from Europe and the United States. The meeting addressed security issues, the Western Balkans, developments in some countries from the post-Soviet space. Iurie Leanca participated in an informal lunch with his counterparts that attended the summit, during which there were discussed the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova, its European integration aspirations and potential external assistance in this direction.