Brussels, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - In his speech to the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, Lithuanian President Rolando Pakso pointed out his country's historical traditions within Europe. He referred in particular to an al fresco in the Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune church in Strasbourg, which sketched the map of Christian European in the 15th Century, and includes the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Mr Pakso said that his country intended to be a reliable partner within the European Union, and reiterated the small Baltic republic's ambition of joining the EMU and the Schengen area sometime between 2005 and 2008. Flagging up Lithuania's pleasing economic results (he mentioned its 7% growth in GDP in 2002), Mr Pakso stressed the importance of proper infrastructure, to be funded under the trans-European networks (he spoke of rail baltica). Having pleaded in favour of a policy to iron out economic disparities between the old and the new Member States, Mr Pakso highlighted the fact that the latter will be the future linchpins in the Union's relations with its eastern neighbours. Apart from the focus to be placed on the economic and social development of the enclave of Kaliningrad, he spoke of relations with north-eastern Russia and the Ukraine. Lastly, the Lithuanian President spoke of the Constitutional Treaty, emphasising: 1) equality between Member States; 2) a reference to Christian values in the preamble; 3) the need to avoid duplicating NATO's work; 4) the transatlantic link, which he described as "vital".