Cooperation makes Lithuania, Estonia visible on int'l stage: Lithuanian president

Lithuania and Estonia overcame energy isolation and secured strong NATO guarantees which underlines the importance of working together, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Wednesday after meeting here with newly elected Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid.

"We are visible and audible on the international stage; in a period of 26 years, Lithuania and Estonia have not only caught up with longer-standing democracies, but have even outperformed them in some fields," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying in a statement after the meeting.

"Today however we are facing new threats and challenges, and once again we need the unity of the Baltic way to counter them," she added.

The two leaders discussed key bilateral, regional and EU issues. Grybauskaite and Kaljulaid expressed similar views on Brexit and migration issues.

"Practically our views coincide on the most issues," Grybauskaite told reporters after meeting.

"We both know Europe very well, we have similar opinion about the situation close to the eastern (European) border." Kaljulaid added at the joint press conference.

Special focus was placed on the security of the Baltic states, energy independence and nuclear safety.

Kaljulaid's visit to Vilnius is one of her first foreign trips since she assumed office on October 10.

Last year, the Lithuanian-Estonian bilateral trade grew by 13 percent and amounted to a total of 2 billion euros. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollars) Endit