Vice-Premier for European Affairs Vasko Naumovski, who is paying a two-day visit to Lithuania, shared opinions Monday with Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis on Macedonia's processes for the European Union and NATO membership.

Lithuanian experience with those processes would be rather significant for Macedonia, Naumovski said at the meeting.

Today, the two countries also signed an investment protection agreement, aimed at creating favorable climate for investing and bolstering the business relations.

In this respect, Naumovski and Azubalis also addressed the possibilities for boosting the economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Macedonian-Lithuanian fruitful cooperation will resume, particularly in regard to usage of the EU funds, Naumovski said.

Macedonia deserves its place within the EU and NATO, Azubalis said. Lithuania will keep supporting Macedonia on this road, he added. He is planning to visit Macedonia this July. Lithuania is a member of the European Union, NATO and current holder of the OSCE Chairmanship.

The Macedonian-Lithuanian trade exchange in 2010 was at US$5million. Last year the two countries established parliamentary cooperation, while the Ministries of Foreign Affairs signed a cooperation agreement. Macedonia's constitutional name is used in that and today's agreements.

On Tuesday, Naumovski is scheduled to meet Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, Director of the Institute for International Relations and Political Science, members of the Committee of European Affairs, former Lithuania's Chief Negotiator for EU Accession Petras Auštrevičius, members of the Inter-parliamentary Group for Cooperation with Western Balkans, Vice-Minister for Finances Rolandas Krisciunas and Klaudius Maniokas, Chairman of Board of European Social, Legal and Economic Projects (ESTER).

On Wednesday Naumovski will also pay a one-day visit to Latvia.