VILNIUS — Past enmity has not stopped Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė from congratulating Viktor Yanukovych on his apparent victory in Ukraine’s presidential election.

“The democratic and open elections confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the common European values and demonstrated the high civil-mindedness of its people,” President Grybauskaitė said in a statement to the press. “The stability and well-being of the entire region depends on the choice that Ukraine makes on its domestic and foreign policies. I therefore wish you much wisdom and endurance as you assume the responsibility of Ukrainian presidency.”

Relations between former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko were warm, with Adamkus supporting [private_supervisor]Yushchenko’s efforts toward the Western integration of Ukraine. However, Yushchenko’s popularity among the Ukrainian electorate has plummeted since the heady days of the Orange Revolution.

International monitors deemed this year’s Ukrainian presidential election free and fair, unlike the 2004 election when the initial results of which were thrown out as rigged in the incumbent Yanukovych’s favor. Adamkus took part in the roundtable discussions with European officials that eventually resulted in a repeat election that Yanukovych’s opponent Yushchenko.

“Cooperation … should be continued.”

On an official state visit to Ukraine in November, Grybauskaitė met with all three presidential candidates. Lithuanian presidential spokesman Linas Balsys said the meeting was “normal.”

“There was no antagonism from his side,” Balsys told Baltic Reports. He hinted that Lithuania may have preferred either a Yushchenko or Yulia Tymoshenko victory — both candidates are considered more pro-Western than Yanukovych — but said Lithuania was more than willing to work with a Yanukovych-led Ukraine.

“We work with what we have, that’s it,” Balsys said. “Lithuania’s going to help Ukraine if Ukraine wants to be helped.”

Earlier this month Yanukovych criticized Lithuania’s involvement in the election-monitoring process.

“We have been informed that so-called election monitors from Poland and Lithuania are on their way to Ukraine. Several boats from Georgia are also coming to Odessa,” Yanukovych told Interfax. “It’s obvious that these are fighters who are coming to Ukraine to help Tymoshenko.”

Balsys said that the statements would not affect Lithuania’s diplomatic relations with a Yanukovych administration.

“We heard some critical expressions about Lithuanian and Polish ‘warriors.’ There was no further serious statements,” Balsys said. “All this cooperation that was taking place before, it could and should be continued.”

Yanukovych has called for closer cooperation with Russia and integration between his Party of Regions and Russia’s ruling United Russia Party.

[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]Yushchenko’s efforts toward the Western integration of Ukraine. However, Yushchenko’s popularity among the Ukrainian electorate has plummeted since the heady days of the Orange Revolution.

International monitors deemed this year’s Ukrainian presidential election free and fair, unlike the 2004 election when the initial results of which were thrown out as rigged in the incumbent Yanukovych’s favor. Adamkus took part in the roundtable discussions with European officials that eventually resulted in a repeat election that Yanukovych’s opponent Yushchenko.

“Cooperation … should be continued.”

On an official state visit to Ukraine in November, Grybauskaitė met with all three presidential candidates. Lithuanian presidential spokesman Linas Balsys said the meeting was “normal.”

“There was no antagonism from his side,” Balsys told Baltic Reports. He hinted that Lithuania may have preferred either a Yushchenko or Yulia Tymoshenko victory — both candidates are considered more pro-Western than Yanukovych — but said Lithuania was more than willing to work with a Yanukovych-led Ukraine.

“We work with what we have, that’s it,” Balsys said. “Lithuania’s going to help Ukraine if Ukraine wants to be helped.”

Earlier this month Yanukovych criticized Lithuania’s involvement in the election-monitoring process.

“We have been informed that so-called election monitors from Poland and Lithuania are on their way to Ukraine. Several boats from Georgia are also coming to Odessa,” Yanukovych told Interfax. “It’s obvious that these are fighters who are coming to Ukraine to help Tymoshenko.”

Balsys said that the statements would not affect Lithuania’s diplomatic relations with a Yanukovych administration.

“We heard some critical expressions about Lithuanian and Polish ‘warriors.’ There was no further serious statements,” Balsys said. “All this cooperation that was taking place before, it could and should be continued.”

Yanukovych has called for closer cooperation with Russia and integration between his Party of Regions and Russia’s ruling United Russia Party.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]Yushchenko’s efforts toward the Western integration of Ukraine. However, Yushchenko’s popularity among the Ukrainian electorate has plummeted since the heady days of the Orange Revolution.

International monitors deemed this year’s Ukrainian presidential election free and fair, unlike the 2004 election when the initial results of which were thrown out as rigged in the incumbent Yanukovych’s favor. Adamkus took part in the roundtable discussions with European officials that eventually resulted in a repeat election that Yanukovych’s opponent Yushchenko.

“Cooperation … should be continued.”

On an official state visit to Ukraine in November, Grybauskaitė met with all three presidential candidates. Lithuanian presidential spokesman Linas Balsys said the meeting was “normal.”

“There was no antagonism from his side,” Balsys told Baltic Reports. He hinted that Lithuania may have preferred either a Yushchenko or Yulia Tymoshenko victory — both candidates are considered more pro-Western than Yanukovych — but said Lithuania was more than willing to work with a Yanukovych-led Ukraine.

“We work with what we have, that’s it,” Balsys said. “Lithuania’s going to help Ukraine if Ukraine wants to be helped.”

Earlier this month Yanukovych criticized Lithuania’s involvement in the election-monitoring process.

“We have been informed that so-called election monitors from Poland and Lithuania are on their way to Ukraine. Several boats from Georgia are also coming to Odessa,” Yanukovych told Interfax. “It’s obvious that these are fighters who are coming to Ukraine to help Tymoshenko.”

Balsys said that the statements would not affect Lithuania’s diplomatic relations with a Yanukovych administration.

“We heard some critical expressions about Lithuanian and Polish ‘warriors.’ There was no further serious statements,” Balsys said. “All this cooperation that was taking place before, it could and should be continued.”

Yanukovych has called for closer cooperation with Russia and integration between his Party of Regions and Russia’s ruling United Russia Party.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]Yushchenko’s efforts toward the Western integration of Ukraine. However, Yushchenko’s popularity among the Ukrainian electorate has plummeted since the heady days of the Orange Revolution.

International monitors deemed this year’s Ukrainian presidential election free and fair, unlike the 2004 election when the initial results of which were thrown out as rigged in the incumbent Yanukovych’s favor. Adamkus took part in the roundtable discussions with European officials that eventually resulted in a repeat election that Yanukovych’s opponent Yushchenko.

“Cooperation … should be continued.”

On an official state visit to Ukraine in November, Grybauskaitė met with all three presidential candidates. Lithuanian presidential spokesman Linas Balsys said the meeting was “normal.”

“There was no antagonism from his side,” Balsys told Baltic Reports. He hinted that Lithuania may have preferred either a Yushchenko or Yulia Tymoshenko victory — both candidates are considered more pro-Western than Yanukovych — but said Lithuania was more than willing to work with a Yanukovych-led Ukraine.

“We work with what we have, that’s it,” Balsys said. “Lithuania’s going to help Ukraine if Ukraine wants to be helped.”

Earlier this month Yanukovych criticized Lithuania’s involvement in the election-monitoring process.

“We have been informed that so-called election monitors from Poland and Lithuania are on their way to Ukraine. Several boats from Georgia are also coming to Odessa,” Yanukovych told Interfax. “It’s obvious that these are fighters who are coming to Ukraine to help Tymoshenko.”

Balsys said that the statements would not affect Lithuania’s diplomatic relations with a Yanukovych administration.

“We heard some critical expressions about Lithuanian and Polish ‘warriors.’ There was no further serious statements,” Balsys said. “All this cooperation that was taking place before, it could and should be continued.”

Yanukovych has called for closer cooperation with Russia and integration between his Party of Regions and Russia’s ruling United Russia Party.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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