Ministry of Interior of Republic of Lithua : Minister of the Interior and Ambassador of Japan Discussed Mutually important Issues

2017 01 06

Minister of the Interior Eimutis Misiūnas today met with the Japanese Ambassador to Lithuania Toyoei Shigeeda and discussed the prospects of countries' cooperation in the area of law enforcement and the issue of mutual recognition of driving licenses.

Minister of the Interior noted good contacts between the Lithuanian and Japanese people, mutual interest and drew attention of H. E. Ambassador to the issue of great importance for our country's citizens -recognition of Lithuanian driving licenses in Japan.

'The number of Lithuanian citizens living, working or studying in Japan is around 600 people per year. Our interest is in creating opportunities for all Lithuanian citizens to be mobile in Japan. Lithuania assesses and analyzes the possibilities to join the United Nations Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, but it would not solve all the problems, so we believe that the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual recognition of driving licenses would be one of the possible solutions ', - said E. Misiūnas.

The Minister briefly presented the road safety situation in Lithuania, which has changed significantly in the positive direction, and every effort is made to ensure further improvement of the situation.

During the meeting at the Ministry of the Interior, opportunities of enhancing cooperation between the law enforcement institutions of both countries were discussed. The Lithuanian services are particularly interested in Japan's expertise in the area of crisis management, as well as the application of the newest technologies in the forensic examinations and ensuring road traffic safety.

Ambassador T. Shigeeda, in turn, also noted constantly intensifying Japanese and Lithuanian cultural and economic ties, Japanese interest in our country and the growing number of Japanese tourists in Lithuania.