News

In the meeting with the delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) on 9 May in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius discussed security challenges facing the Baltic region and presented Lithuania’s objectives for the next NATO Summit in Warsaw to be held on 8-9 July.

The delegation of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee’s Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities that is visiting Lithuania is composed of representatives of the national parliaments of France, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Estonia and Turkey.

The purpose of the visit is to get closer acquainted with the security situation in the Baltic states, national defence priorities, the implementation of NATO’s reassurance measures in Lithuania and other issues concerning security and defence policy.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister said he believed that decisions taken at the Warsaw Summit would strengthen the Alliance’s eastern wing.

“The Baltic states need a clearly visible and palpable presence of the allies. Lithuania also stands in solidarity with the allies that are facing threats from the south. There is a need to maintain a 360-degree approach to security – NATO must have capabilities to fend off all threats no matter where they originate,” said Linkevičius.

The participants of the delegation also took interest in Lithuania’s position on the situation in Ukraine and in the implementation of the Minsk accords. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister highlighted the need to remember Russia’s role in the conflict in Ukraine.

“We cannot connive at this and return to normal relations with Russia until the country starts to respect international law and its obligations. There is no alternative to the Minsk accords yet. Western countries’ support is of vital importance for Ukraine. Therefore, we must maintain a consistent, unambiguous position on Russia and continue to provide full support for Ukraine,” stressed Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

During their visit to Lithuania, the guests will also meet with members of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Seimas (Parliament), the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas, members of the Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly, the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania and the Commander in Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. They will also visit NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission at the Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai.