LITHUANIA AND THE U.S. ARE READY TO EXPAND COOPERATION IN CARRYING NATO CARGO TO AND FROM AFGHANISTAN
On 24 May in Washington, D.C., Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas, U.S. officials and representatives from logistics companies discussed further cooperation in carrying the cargo of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for the needs of the U.S. administration in Afghanistan.
Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Ambassador Robert Blake and representatives from U.S. logistics companies that carry the U.S. cargo via the Northern Distribution Network route and through the Port of Klaipėda and the Lithuanian territory to Afghanistan.The meeting discussed the possibility to expand cargo shipment through the Port of Klaipėda in support of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations, and also to work actively in providing alternative options for cargo transportation via Lithuania from Afghanistan.
“Lithuania can offer to ship the cargo that the U.S. administration needs very quickly, safely and at competitive prices to Afghanistan and back. The cargo has been shipped successfully through the Port of Klaipėda and the Lithuanian territory to Afghanistan since December 2010. We and our U.S. partners are satisfied with the quality of services,” Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas said.
He also met with a member of the U.S. Senate Richard Durbin, acquainted him with the current model of ISAF cargo transit via Lithuania and expressed hope that Lithuania’s efforts to cooperate with U.S. companies and forces in the field of ISAF cargo transit will be further successfully advanced.
Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas also discussed innovative projects of cooperation projects between Lithuania and Central Asian countries that would be important to the countries and to Afghanistan.
“Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is willing to work with Governments of Central Asian countries enhancing the cooperation in the fields of border control and energy security,” the Vice-Minister said.
The Lithuanian official and representatives from U.S. logistics companies discussed new schemes of multimodal ISAF cargo delivery.
Continuing his visit to Washington, D.C., Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas will also meet with U.S. business representatives who are interested in business development opportunities in Lithuania and will present legal and fiscal environment for investment in Lithuania.
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