News

On 27-28 April during the Informal NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Sofia Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis expressed support to NATO “Open Door” policy.

According to Lithuania’s opinion the states aspiring for membership in the Alliance should receive a clear message on membership prospects.

Talking about NATO mission in Afghanistan Minister Valionis  underlined the importance of coordination of civil activities of NATO Provincial Reconstruction Teams in this country.

“The restoration of civil infrastructure in the province becomes more important, therefore it is necessary to coordinate them,” said Minister Valionis basing on the experience of Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.

During the NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting Lithuanian Foreign Minister welcomed free and democratic elections in Ukraine on 26 March and Ukraine’s performance in implementation of NATO integration objectives.

Minister Valionis expressed confidence that Ukrainian Government would continue active and constructive cooperation with the Alliance. The Minister stressed that obtainment of NATO Membership Action Plan would be a decision having a positive effect on Ukrainian reforms.

“Lithuania will continue to support NATO-Ukrainian cooperation in the future,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed in the meeting.

In the NATO-Russia Council the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy welcomed Russian-Georgian agreement of 31 March on withdrawal of Russian military forces from Georgia as an important step in fulfillment of the Istanbul commitments. The Minister voiced conviction that this would prompt Russia to meet the commitments on withdrawal of  its military from Moldova.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister also welcomed a brave move of Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the evaluation of the events of 1956 and 1968 in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The Minister expressed hope that the same move would be made in evaluation of similar events in Poland and the occupation of the Baltic States.

Talking about the events in Belarus Minister Valionis reminded that by joining the NATO program Partnership for Peace the state obliged to respect the fundamental values. Lithuanian Foreign Minister urged Russia to work together with the European Union and NATO Members in order to overcome the democracy crisis in the country.