Foreign Affairs Committee on June 13th, 2023

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

I absolutely agree and subscribe to your words in terms of Russia's responsibility and, at the same time, speaking about Ukraine's future reconstruction, in terms of the need to use, first of all, Russia's money, Russia's financial assets. In this regard, many comprehensive discussions are going on with the EU and the G7 among like-minded countries, so I truly believe that it would be great to find a common solution, an international platform to implement this initiative of frozen Russian assets and the possible use of them for Ukraine's reconstruction.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

Madam McPherson, you have a minute and a half.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A minute and a half is not very much time, Vice-Minister, so I will just give you an opportunity to speak.

We now know the results of the Turkish election. Erdogan has been declared the winner. What will that mean for Vilnius? What will that mean for Sweden? Could you take a few moments to comment on that?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

My comment will be very short. We are looking to welcome Sweden as the 32nd full-fledged member state at the Vilnius NATO summit.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Do you anticipate any challenges with that from Turkey?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

We still have four weeks before the Vilnius NATO summit, enough time to finalize all the procedures needed to finish with ratification of Sweden's full-fledged membership in NATO.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

You're quite optimistic that will proceed.

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

Yes.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Wonderful. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Madam McPherson.

Now we go to Mr. Hoback again for three minutes.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Vice-Minister, I agree with you. I look forward to seeing Sweden at the table with everybody else at NATO.

I'm curious. With Sweden and Finland joining NATO, how does that change the functioning of NATO within Lithuania? How does that assist you? What kinds of logistical issues do you face or challenges do you have that we can assist you with?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

There's no doubt that, in the Baltic states, Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians are more than happy to have, right now, Finland as a full-fledged member of NATO. We are also, as I mentioned, optimistic about welcoming Sweden in the very near future. It definitely will increase security and stability in our region.

Traditionally, we have very good relations, very good co-operation, with both Sweden and Finland, so it will give us a chance to even increase and intensify co-operation in the field of defence and security with both new allies.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

I think it's nothing but positive all the way around for all the countries involved, including a look back here at Canada on our northern shore, which my colleague, Mr. Oliphant, will always say is a border to Russia, as well.

You did talk about your 2.5%, possibly going to 3%, of GDP in your military spending. How has that impacted your foreign aid? Does it maintain the same? I thought you said that you spend 1% of GDP just on Ukrainian aid. Is that true?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

Yes, it's even more than 1% totally, including military, humanitarian, economic and financial aid to Ukraine. Since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, we've spent more than one billion euros. That is around 1.4% of Lithuania's GDP.

I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that Lithuanian civic society is very supportive of Ukraine. The Lithuanian people collected and donated more than 60 million euros for the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian people but also for the needs of the Ukrainian army, buying drones or anti-drone systems. That is a great example of strong [Inaudible—Editor] support. Also, it's from the Lithuanian people, not only from government institutions.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Thank you, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Mr. Hoback.

For the final question, we go to MP Sarai.

You have three minutes.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Maybe I'll just carry on from there, Vice-Minister.

You said that the Lithuanian people are still very strong and supportive of the sanctions against the Russians and of the military support—at least by drones and other methods—of Ukraine. Is that, among your Baltic allies, also maintaining...? Is the population holding steadfast in their support for Ukraine and against Russia?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

Yes, absolutely. In all three Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—the will to support Ukraine remains very strong because we know from our historic experience.... It's a many centuries-long experience dealing with Russia. Our position is very clear: Ukrainians are fighting not only for their freedom and independence but also for our freedom and independence.

It's not only our moral obligation to support Ukrainians. If we are looking to our future and thinking about a secure, peaceful future in the Baltic region, in Europe and in the Atlantic community, we have to continue and to enhance our support to Ukraine.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

When you see places like Belarus or others of the ex-Soviet Republic, like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, do you see public opinion shifting there, a feeling that they're boxed out because of their association with Russia versus countries like yours who have allied with the west or with NATO and the European Union? Do you see their public perception or public loyalty switching as well?

[Egidijus Meilūnas]

Yes, we see some expressions and signs that the approach and, as you mentioned, the loyalty is switching. I believe that Russia is losing the influence it had some decades ago in this region.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you, Vice-Minister.

Thank you, Chair. I think that's all my time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, MP Sarai.

Thank you ever so much, Vice-Minister Meilūnas. It has truly been an honour and a privilege to have you here to share your insights and your expertise on the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

I also know that I speak on behalf of all members of this committee when I thank you for everything you have done for Ukraine and for hosting the NATO summit next month in your beautiful capital of Vilnius. Thank you very much for being with us.

Members, before we leave, I have a couple of housekeeping matters.

The first one is with respect to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights. They have prepared a draft report on the residential school situation in Tibet.

We do have to go through the motions. I just want to make sure that everyone is fully in favour of adopting that draft report:

That the report be entitled: “The Human Rights Situation of Tibetans and the Chinese Residential Boarding School and Preschool System”. That the Chair, clerk and analysts be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report. That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report. That dissenting or supplementary opinions be in Calibri 12-point font, left aligned, single-spaced, and be submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the clerk of the committee, not later than 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

That's tomorrow, but I don't think there's going to be a dissenting report.

That the Chair present the report to the House.

We need unanimous consent to that.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

That's excellent.

Now going onto the other report, which has to do with sexual and reproductive health and rights of women globally, as you all know, the report has been finalized. We expect to receive a dissenting opinion today, I believe. It will be included when it is tabled.

I have a couple of things. First of all with respect to a news release, when the report is finally tabled, I just want to ensure that the members agree that the analysts and the clerk, in consultation with the chair, prepare a news release for a publication on the committee's website and for distribution upon presentation of the report to the House.

Is that agreeable to everyone?

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

[Inaudible—Editor] report?