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Dear Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to welcome you in Vilnius, the heart of Lithuania. On the national Day of Statehood it is my honor to talk about our foreign policy, which has been the driving force during the 20 years of independence contributing to the consolidation of statehood and reforming the society.

  From the early years of reestablished independence till now on Lithuania has pursued an active foreign policy based on continuity and traditional framework of values such as freedom, democracy and principles of truth, justice and international law. It was just a decade after re-establishing independence and thanks to the determination and consistent efforts of the people of Lithuania and support of Western Europeans and the North Americans, that we have accomplished our strategic foreign policy objective by becoming an institutional part of the Euro – Atlantic community. We have never had a dilemma of prioritising either EU or NATO – it has always been Lithuanian policy of joining both EU and NATO. Key objectives of our foreign policy have been to ensure national security, promote democratic values in the international relations and to create a favorable external environment for the safe development of the state. It is only through the membership both in EU and NATO that these objectives could be achieved.

Before the EU and NATO accession we have lived through, probably, the most profound political and economic changes in the course of the last few decades in Europe: from entirely state run Soviet economy and one party dictatorship toward a truly democratic state and free market economy. I am satisfied with the annual 'Freedom House' report "Nations in Transit ', for assessment of democracy and human rights situation in 2009, which states that among the ten new EU member states only Lithuania recorded an improvement in its democratic situation. I dare to say that this assessment confirms that my country does not have serious problems also with human rights and could serve as a model for other new EU member states.

  Let me go through the priorities of the Lithuanian foreign policy as we have outlined in the strategic plan for the years 2010 – 2012.

  I believe that strong presence in the EU and the active participation in the EU’s policies are the main instruments for ensuring national security and creating conditions for economic development and well-being of Lithuanian citizens. Lithuania advocates a strong and speaking in one voice EU to be a confident and competitive actor on a global stage. What is more, it is in our interest that the European institutions are strong and play the major role. Effective functioning of the EU internal market and a stable euro are the prerequisites. Inspired by our neighbor’s success, Lithuanian government has focused its efforts to become a member of the euro zone. Global economic crisis has demonstrated the need for the substantial and long term instruments on both the national and the EU level. The development of science and innovation is of utmost importance.

  What is more, it would be of Lithuania’s interest to have a common EU foreign and security policy, a policy that would be coherent, that would reinforce democratic values and enhance the EU’s global role. The establishment of the European External Action Service serves as an ideal instrument for achieving this outcome, as long as it is effective and coherent. It is in our highest interest that the selection of personnel to the European External Action Service would be based on geographical balance and the European External Action Service would be an autonomous EU institution.

  Lithuania is an active proponent of enhanced Nordic – Baltic cooperation.

The states of the Nordic – Baltic Eight constitute 6,3 % of total EU population, making almost 9 % of the EU’s total GDP. I believe that an open and far – extended dialogue could help the countries to deal with the economic turmoil as well as to overcome some of the costs of their small absolute size. It is in our interest that the cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic States is enhanced and remains a dynamic process. In this regard, the evaluation of the existing state-of-affairs within the region and prioritization of the Nordic - Baltic ties would be timely and appropriate first step. After the overview is presented to the NB8 Foreign Ministers in August, Lithuania suggests continued input of the wise men group in order to reflect a broader range of the Baltic and Nordic cooperation and integration issues beyond the formal and institutionalized cooperation structures. What is more, Lithuania suggests that the future input of the wise men group is based on two pillars - “branding” of the Nordic - Baltic region as a first pillar and a greater political Nordic - Baltic cooperation as a second.

  Starting with July 2009 and until July 2010 Lithuania held the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, which is an overall political forum for regional inter – governmental cooperation. As a chairman of this body, Lithuania focused attention and efforts on the issues such as innovations, cross – border cooperation, clean environment and safe living conditions in the Baltic Sea region. Lithuanian Presidency was concluded by the 8th Baltic Sea States Summit and Baltic Development Forum Summit – the so – called Davos of the Baltic Sea region. The summits were a step forward promoting regional cooperation and exchange of experiences in the areas of energy security, transportation and new technologies.

  Another foreign policy priority is EU’s Eastern neighborhood policy. As a member of EU and NATO Lithuania continues to undertake the initiatives and to pursue an active EU and NATO Eastern policies. We do support the reform efforts undertaken by the region countries. The progress is visible, nevertheless the process is not yet finished.

  I am sure that an ambitious Eastern Partnership Programme, launched a year ago, is a significant step forward. If used constructively, it can make a real success. When implementing the Eastern Partnership Programme last year, Lithuania in cooperation with Ukraine and Belarus prepared a wide range of trilateral projects and continues to come up with proposals to the European Commission regarding the aid to the EU’s neighbours in the East. Besides that Lithuania implements specific projects of integrated border management, preservation of cultural heritage and shares her experience of the EU integration.

  The Eastern Partnership initiative testifies to a serious shift of the EU’s relations with the European neighbours, leading towards greater political commitments, the integration of these countries into the EU market, facilitated travelling to the EU for their citizens and cooperation in ensuring energy security and a more solid financial support.

  In line with EU’s neighborhood policy Lithuania is strengthening its role by cooperating with the Mediterranean region countries within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean.

  One of the most important issues for Lithuanian diplomacy today is the need to overcome country‘s energy system’s isolation and to strengthen energy security. Lithuania has to reduce dependence on a single external supplier of natural gas, create a common Baltic Sea region’s energy and gas market and integrate it into a common energy system of the EU. We strongly support the creation of common EU External Energy Policy and strengthening of the EU energy policy, the creation of effective, competitive and integrated EU energy market.

  Diversification of energy suppliers is the key to energy security. In this regard, Lithuania sees Caspian and Black Sea region as a potential partner. We give highest priority to the projects that help to diversify energy supplies and decrease Europe’s dependency on a single external energy supplier.

  What is more, we must also aim to establish new mechanisms and tools to tackle new threats, first and foremost, in the area of energy security. Lithuanian government has taken real action in this regard adopting the decision to set up a National Energy Security Centre in Vilnius starting from 1 January 2011. The National Energy Security Centre will seek the status of a NATO accredited Centre of Excellence.

  Global economic crisis have reasserted the importance of another priority - economic diplomacy. Among the tasks of paramount importance for Lithuanian diplomacy today is to contribute to revitalization of country’s economy, to foster Lithuanian competitiveness promoting export and foreign investment to Lithuania. Being beneficiary of the free trade, Lithuania strongly supports conclusion of bilateral free trade agreements between the EU and third countries. We seek to complement the development of economic relations with traditional partners, strengthening cooperation with China, India, South – East Asia, countries in Latin America, Gulf and Middle East. I believe there is a good potential in promoting a productive and mutually beneficial dialogue between our states. Expansion of the honorary consuls network, whom we consider being a very important instrument in economic diplomacy, counts among our priorities, especially in the regions, where Lithuania has no diplomatic representation. 

  At the same time being on a strategic geographical location Lithuania seeks to promote her advantages as a transit country. Our diplomatic efforts are directed towards the connection of Lithuanian transport infrastructure to the West European networks. The projects of the East – West transport corridor, “Viking”, “Rail Baltica” and “Via Baltica” are among the top priorities.

Lithuania had surprised Europe and the world in the beginning of the XXI century showing an absolutely exemplary economic progress and boom. And although Lithuania suffered from the global recession harder than many other countries in Europe, we again appeared to be one of the first to fight it and quickly jumped onto the same track we were before the crisis started. Lithuania’s economy started again growing already in the 3rd quarter of 2009 and the market is very much inspired by highly optimistic international analysts’ evaluations and future development forecasts. The International Monetary Fund expressed the optimism that Lithuania’s recovery may be stronger than first estimated and will grow 2 % during the present year. A rebound in industrial production after 16 months of declines and a return of export growth are adding to this optimism. Lithuania’s government remains committed to determined policy response, including a sizeable fiscal consolidation, economy stimulation measures and protection of jobs.

  Policy vis-à-vis Russia is another important priority of our foreign policy. We aim at an open dialogue with Russia, good neighborhood and mutual trust based on democratic values, truth and justice, respect for universally recognized international law principles and fulfillment of the international obligations. What is more, Lithuania aims to enhance mutually rewarding economic and cultural links. Russia is our first trade partner and one of major investors in Lithuania. It is in our highest interest that Russia pursues an open and coherent economic policy.

  A special attention is paid to direct relations and cooperation with the Kaliningrad District of the Russian Federation. In the context of Lithuanian Presidency at the Council of Baltic Sea States, we strongly promoted and supported the development of the Kaliningrad district, its opening and cooperation with the EU.

As a member of the transatlantic security and defence community, Lithuania takes seriously the commitments and responsibilities while strengthening transatlantic values as democracy, rule of law, and respect to human rights. We actively participate in Alliance’s everyday life, prepare together to respond to new challenges as well as adapt the Alliance to the new security environment. In our opinion, solidarity among Allies in Europe and North America is vital in addressing the traditional as well as new/asymmetrical security threats and challenges. In this regard Lithuania welcomes recommendations for the NATO’s New Strategic Concept and values the good work done by the group of experts under the leadership of Madame Madeleine Albright. We are glad that fundamental core tasks and principles of the Alliance have been emphasized and remain as relevant as ever. In our view Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and the principle collective defence should remain at the core of NATO’s new Strategic Concept. We also support the ideas to promote NATO’s visibility within member states, which can be achieved through common exercises, training, and development of infrastructure. The New Strategic Concept should emphasize the importance of effective deterrence, based on the appropriate mix of conventional and nuclear capabilities.

  Open door policy is crucial contribution of NATO to the security and stability in Euro-Atlantic region. We know from our experience, that NATO enlargement contributes to stability and security of the region, stimulates thorough transformation of the state, and the success of reforms.  Today it is hard to imagine Alliance without its partners: they actively participate in NATO-led operations, we work together while implementing democratic reforms, we cooperate in military training, civil emergency planning, we develop common scientific projects. Therefore, NATO should further deepen and strengthen its relations with partners. We reiterate that NATO open door policy and partnerships are fundamental tools in consolidating Europe whole and free.

Lithuania remains an active member of NATO. In November 2010, Lithuania’s Parliament extended the mandate of Lithuania’s forces for participation in the international operations for further 3 years, until the end of 2013. I would like to assure you that despite economic slowdown, Lithuania’s priorities in Afghanistan remain unchanged: maintaining secure environment and helping local Afghan authorities for the gradual take-over of responsibility in the Province of Ghor to impact to the security and development of the whole country.  In this regard Lithuania concentrates its development efforts mainly in the sectors of good governance, administrative capacity building, healthcare, education. In these activities the US and Japan strongly sustain our efforts. We closely cooperate in the reconstruction provincial hospital, construction of Chaghcharan children center, pavement of the streets of Chaghcharan. As a special case I would like to mention Japan’s participation in the development of the province of Ghor. Japan government responded to Lihuania’s proposal and dispached 4 development experts in May 2009. Japanese facilitated the areas of education, public health, vocational training and water supply as well as strengthening of the NGO sector.

In the regard to a need for more assistance to the secure but underdeveloped province [like Ghor], Lithuania is planning to convene Development Cooperation Conference in November [12-13], 2010 in Vilnius. The Conference will be dedicated to the even and sustainable development of all regions.  The Conference aims to discuss development cooperation’s impact on the transition process in Afghanistan as well. In addition, topics, such as the direct dependence between development cooperation and security situation, ownership, common action between donors will be discussed.

  Another task of paramount importance for the Lithuanian diplomacy is a proper preparation for the coming presidencies: OSCE in 2011 and the EU Council in 2013. I am sure that the OSCE chairmanship will contribute to strengthening Lithuania’s international and regional role, preparing for the EU Presidency in 2013 and an eventual membership in the United Nations Security Council in 2014-2015. During the OSCE chairmanship, we intend to focus on strengthening comprehensive security dialogue in Europe and within the OSCE area, in   protection of human rights and media freedom. We will seek to strengthen transatlantic dimension in the European structures, while ensuring cooperative security environment in the region.  I believe that the OSCE provides a substantial complement of the EU and NATO instruments with the early warning, post – conflict rehabilitation and confidence building measures.  

  Since July 2009, Lithuania is chairing the Community of Democracies. The goals of Lithuania’s two-year long Presidency are to identify threats to democracy, find ways to enhance democratic governance following the global downturn and financial crisis, to strengthen the role of women and youth in developing democracy. What is more, Lithuania aims at reforming the organization itself and involving into its activities world’s largest democracies, various regions and civil society more effectively. We are very pleased that Lithuania’s efforts to reinvigorate the Community of Democracies were met with a positive response by the new and old democracies alike.

  In this context I would like to mention our expanding cooperation with partners in Asia, Latin America and Africa. While actively working at the international organizations and multilateral fora, we are also strengthening our bilateral political and economic ties with the countries of these regions. Preparing for the future EU Presidency, we consider it is of utmost importance to deepen our knowledge about theses regions, promote high level contacts and to participate at the regional initiatives and joint projects. As an example I could quote our fruitful cooperation with a range of Asian countries while implementing our ASEM Tansport initiatives.  

  Last but not the least our foreign policy priority is the improvement of consular services and maintaining links with Lithuanian communities abroad. The rapidly augmenting numbers of Lithuanian communities all over the world add to the paramount importance of this priority. Sharing the attitude that we are the same Nation that unites Lithuanians who live both in Lithuania and abroad, we developed and will start implementing the strategy of Global Lithuania. The strategy aims to include Lithuanians living abroad to the political, cultural, economic and social life of the state, create and maintain specialized social networks.

Dear Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let my final word be a thank you for your untiring work maintaining fruitful cooperation and promoting viable links between our countries. I highly appreciate your individual contributions and trust that the cooperation between our countries has a great potential, yet to be fully tapped.

Thank You