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On 5 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius took part in the opening ceremony of the Hans Hækkerup Hall (former Danish Minister of Defence) at the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE) and expressed his gratitude to Denmark for supporting Lithuania’s goal of becoming a member of NATO from the very beginning.

“Denmark was among Lithuania’s most active supporters on the country’s way to the Alliance. We also enjoy our ties between Lithuania and Denmark today. Denmark is the most active participant of NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic States. The country has already taken part in this mission four times,” L.Linkevičius said.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted that the issue of energy security was more often included in NATO’s agenda. He expressed hope that Denmark would join activities of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in the near future.

During the ceremony, L.Linkevičius also shared his personal memories of H.Hækkerup.

H.Hækkerup, who served as the Danish Minister of Defence from 1993 to 2000, made a significant contribution to the establishment of close cooperation between Lithuania and Denmark in the field of security and defence after the re-establishment of Lithuania’s independence. Denmark helped the country to create its own defence forces, trained Lithuanian soldiers to take part in international military and peace-keeping operations, donated necessary military equipment to Lithuania.

Photos: A. Pliadis.