The two-day Snow Meeting of international security policy strategists and experts ended in Trakai on 11 January. The meeting discussed topical issues on the international agenda. Particular emphasis was placed on European security issues.

According to the host of the event - the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius - it is important for Lithuania that the meeting stressed the importance of transatlantic ties for European security, and the necessity for the United States and Europe to collaborate for peace, security and stability in various regions of the world, ensuring respect for human rights and basic democratic principles.

“We rely on the principles of good neighbourhood, as we strive to contribute to the creation of a common space of security, stability and prosperity in Europe without dividing lines,” Linkevičius stressed.

According to the Minister, such informal discussions are very useful: Lithuanian foreign policy professionals and experts are enriched with new insights and ideas; they also have an excellent opportunity to share their political vision with the international audience.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Snow Meeting already for the sixth time. This year the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák, Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlăţean. Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, who was paying an official visit to Vilnius, spoke at the meeting.

The event was also attended by officials from the EU, NATO and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), experts of non-governmental organizations from the U.S. Atlantic Council, the U.S. German Marshall Fund, the U.S. National Democratic Institute (NDI), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Jamestown Foundation, Freedom House, Chatham House, representatives from the French, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Latvian, Estonian, the U.S., and Danish institutes for strategic studies and international relations.