News

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis started his five-day visit in Washington by meetings with Member of the US House of Representatives John Shimkus and experts of non-governmental organisations and participated in the opening ceremony of the painting exhibition by Lithuania’s artist Solomonas Teitelbaumas. On 21 January, Minister Valionis and John Shimkus discussed the plans of the US Congress’ trade delegation to visit the Baltic States in the end of May 2004. The Minister also met with Senior Expert of the German Marshall Fund of the United States Ronald Asmus and Senior Scientist at the RAND Corporation Stephen Larrabee. During the meetings, the officials discussed the issues of Lithuania’s integration into NATO and the regional cooperation projects. On the same evening, Minister Valionis together with Senator of Michigan State Carl Levin, US Ambassador to Lithuania Stephen Mull and a group of art lovers from Washington participated at the opening of Solomonas Teitelbaumas’ painting exhibition at the Lithuanian embassy in Washington. At the opening ceremony, Lithuania’s Ambassador to the United States Vygaudas Ušackas rejoiced over the fact that Lithuania’s Embassy in Washington had an exceptional opportunity to acquaint the citizens of Washington with paintings of young but already famous Lithuanian artist, whose talent had been more and more recognised in the West. During his visit to Washington on 20-24 January, Minister Valionis is also scheduled to meet with US State Secretary Colin Powell, high officials of the US Department of State, the US Department of Defence and the National Security Council, senators, members of the House of Representatives and members of the American Jewish organisations.