Press Releases
Japan-Lithuania Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
March 16, 2022
On March 16, commencing at 8:45p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his appreciation for the importance Lithuania attaches to its relations with Japan and his desire to deepen bilateral relations as the two countries commemorate the 100th anniversary of their friendship this year. The two ministers concurred on further enhancing the bilateral relationship and on collaborating in the international arena.
- Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the two ministers confirmed that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine infringes upon Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, constitutes a serious violation of international law and is a unilateral change of the status quo by force, and they strongly condemned outrageous actions by Russia which undermine the foundation of the international order. Minister Hayashi stated that it is absolutely impermissible that a number of civilians have been killed and wounded by Russian military attacks, and that as Japan is the only country that has suffered atomic bombings, neither the threat nor the use of nuclear weapons should be tolerated. Minister Hayashi further explained that Japan is imposing robust sanctions against Russia and Belarus, that Japan together with Lithuania, referred the Situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, and that Japan is providing goods of Japan Self-Defense Forces and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. Minister Landsbergis highly valued the measures by Japan, and stated that the EU and like-minded countries should continue severe sanctions against Russia and provide further support for Ukraine.
- The two ministers concurred on the recognition that unilateral changes of the status quo by force are absolutely unacceptable anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the two ministers shared their concerns about coercive behaviors including in the economic field and concurred on the necessity to enhance cooperation among like-minded countries including on strengthening the supply chain.