THE HAGUE, 22/07/09 - In a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Usackas, Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has expressed his concern about the position of homosexuals in Lithuania.

Verhagen spoke with his colleague about a new act that bans any reference to homosexuality in media accessible for children. "This legislation will encourage discrimination against homosexuals and is in contradiction to freedom of expression," according to Verhagen.

Verhagen suggested in his statement however that the present Lithuanian government has had the bill imposed on it by parliament. "The previous President Adamkus of Lithuania had already sent this bill back to parliament at an earlier stage. On 14 July, the Lithuanian parliament offered this bill again for approval, this time to the just-installed new Lithuanian President Grybauskaite. She has meanwhile had to sign this bill."

Usackas told the Netherlands that "his government did not agree with the tenor of the act," according to Verhagen. Usackas will also "use all possible means to ensure that the law does not work out to be discriminatory for homosexuals," his Dutch counterpart added.

Usackas was in the Netherlands for a two-day visit. Verhagen and his counterpart also discussed the "good relations between Lithuania and the Netherlands, the financial crisis and the partnership between the Benelux countries and the Baltic States."