On 16 January, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius held a meeting with Hungary’s Minister of Defence Csaba Hende. The Ministers discussed NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States, Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, other important issues related to security policy and bilateral cooperation.

Linkevičius thanked Hungary for its support to the air policing mission in the Baltic States and invited to join the activities of the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support to the NATO air policing mission in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The protection of the Baltic airspace by NATO’s allies is the best example of the Alliance’s solidarity and collaboration,” Linkevičius said.

During the two-day visit to Lithuania, Hungary’s Minister of Defence also held meetings with the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Seimas (Parliament) Artūras Paulauskas, The Hungarian Minister visited the Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence and paid tribute to the defenders of freedom at the Antakalnis cemetery.