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Laba diena, good afternoon,

Honourable Secretary General, Honourable ambassadors, Dear Mariusz, Dear Aivis, thank you for coming from Riga and Warsaw. Fellow students,

Good to be back to my Alma Mater and to host Honourable Secretary General with whom we also share some common history. At least for one year I was a student of his Alma Mater – at Aarhus University. It is a good pleasure for me to welcome a true friend of Lithuania – Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Vilnius.

As you know, he played – he was a Prime Minister for many years – a very special role in helping to broke a deal for Lithuania’s membership in the EU in 2002. And of course, we are looking forward to your leadership, which you have already assumed as of 1st of August, in moving NATO to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We, as a country who have joined NATO just five years ago, are strong believers in North Atlantic Alliance. In North Atlantic Alliance, which embodies United States of America and European nations for the common cause – to defend the values we so direly share. Which is freedom, democracy, the rule of law. And that is a glue which kept together the Alliance for more than 60 years. And that is the glue which has to keep the Alliance in the years to come. As we address conventional, non-conventional, new and old threats in order to defend the citizens of our countries from the 21st century risks and threats.

We also are strong believers of openness of NATO. Because we are the most immediate beneficiaries of that again only five years ago when we joined this great Alliance of freedom, which is called NATO. That is why we believe – as NATO is going to meet and discuss Strategic Concept, with Aivis Ronis representing the three Baltic nations’ views with a wise men and women 12 countries of NATO – you will also provide an incentive for future openness and enlargement of NATO. For nations who long for the same security guarantees, and for nations who definitely benefit to be a part of this great Alliance. I speak about Eastern Europe, I speak about Western Balkans. Some of the ambassadors are here, and I can assure that Lithuania will be the strongest advocate for your cause as well. Be it Ukraine, be it countries of Western Balkans, or be it Georgia, which is struggling through its own challenges and difficulties. As a matter of fact, I just spoke with freshly newly appointed Foreign Minister of Ukraine Piotr Poroshenko, whom I have congratulated and he asked to convey you his best greetings and reassurances that Ukraine is firmly staying on the course of European integration.

We are part of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. The risks and dangers, which arise from Afghanistan, touch everyone, from New York to London, from Warsaw to Vilnius. And I can assure that we would be along with other states of NATO in order to take out the roots of terrorism, in order that we could be comfortable to fly the airplanes from one city to another and not to be concerned about the terrorist attacks. And that mission of NATO is not yet accomplished.

I know, Secretary General, that Russia is high on your agenda. So it is on ours as well. Some people, even in Brussels, suggest that Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians are Russo-phobic. That is nonsense. We are the best friends of Russia. Russia, which is democratic, which respects the rule of law, which resects territorial integrity of others, and which lives in peace with itself and others, especially its neighbours. And we are open for the dialogue; we are open for the cooperation. However, we also firmly believe that NATO and the rest of Western institutions should help Russia to respect international commitments, including territorial integrity of Georgia.

So, with this, Secretary General, it is my great honour and pleasure to welcome you at Vilnius University and to ask you to share with us your vision of NATO in 21st century.

Thank you.