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At the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on 23 April in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius underlined that Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union would aim to strengthen the cooperation between NATO and the EU, and to harmonise their support to countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

“The European Union and NATO not only share common values and interests, but also goals and aspirations. Therefore, one of the objectives of Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council will be to strengthen the cooperation between these organizations and to translate the strong transatlantic partnership into coordinated and unanimous action,” Linkevičius said at the meeting.

The session of the North Atlantic Council focused on the Middle East and North Africa, and the possible impact of developments in the region’s countries on the regional and NATO security. Linkevičius briefed his allies about Lithuania’s intentions to contribute to the implementation of the German Marshall Fund project in the region by sending experts to one of these countries to share their experience.

The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council discussed the cooperation between the Alliance and Russia after 2014, when the International Security Assistance Force would have transferred full responsibility for security to the Kabul Government. Linkevičius welcomed the agreement reached at the NATO-Russia Council, allowing the Alliance to transport non-military cargo via Russia and ensuring Russia’s assistance to the Afghan Government. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister called for continuing this mutually beneficial cooperation also after 2014.  Linkevičius also reassured the participants of the meeting of Lithuania’s support to the practical cooperation between NATO and Russia and illustrated it with examples of joint projects of Lithuanian and Russian scientists on environmental protection of the Baltic Sea.