News

On 14 April at an informal NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Berlin, head of Lithuanian diplomacy Audronius Ažubalis and partners to NATO’s operation in Libya discussed the international community’s actions in implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

The resolution provides for an arms embargo, a no-fly zone and all necessary means to protect Libyan civilians against the military action of Muammar Qadhafi’s regime.

At the meeting, foreign ministers issued a joint statement that welcomes the outcome of the first meeting of the Contact Group which took place in Doha.

The statement claims that NATO will continue to adapt military actions in Libya until all attacks and threats of attack against civilians will have ended, the regime will have verifiably withdrawn to bases all military forces and permitted unhindered humanitarian access to all the people in Libya in need of assistance.

The participants of the meeting emphasized that the international community had to intensify the search for a political solution to the Libyan crisis.

At the meeting dedicated to the operation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, NATO foreign ministers welcomed the start of the process of the transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan Government. Foreign ministers discussed the ISAF cooperation with the Afghan Government, continued support of NATO and ISAF for strengthening the rule of law in the country.

During the discussions, Minister A.Ažubalis spoke up for the strengthening of NATO’s deterrence and defence policy, while taking concrete measures and thus contributing to the security of the Alliance’s members.

On the same day at the Lithuanian Embassy in Germany, the meeting of the Group of Friends of Georgia that was initiated by Lithuania with the participation of the country’s Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze focused on the prospect of Georgia’s NATO membership and reform progress in this country.

Minister A.Ažubalis voiced support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and the ongoing reforms in this country. He stressed that NATO would continue to support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals.

During the meeting, G.Vashadze acquainted the participants of the meeting with the country’s position on the World Trade Organization, the European Union’s activities in Georgia and regional security issues.