News

On 30 November, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Anne E. Derse will sign a protocol at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which partially amends and extends the term of the Agreement between the governments of Lithuania and the United States of America Concerning Cooperation in the Area of the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the Promotion of Defense and Military Relations.

Projects are implemented that aim at preventing the illegal transfer and trafficking in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and related materials in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Lithuania and the Government of the U.S.A.

The Agreement that came into force in 2003 regulates the provision of the voluntary assistance by the U.S. at the Lithuanian border crossing points, where the U.S. is installing nuclear/radiation detectors. In this area, the U.S. allocated assistance to Lithuania in 2003-2009 worth over 11 million Litas.

The U.S. assistance and equipment made it possible to install radiation detection systems at the Vilnius International Airport and land border crossing points, a permanent surveillance system was installed at the Maišiagala Radioactive Waste Repository and physical security upgrades were made at five Lithuanian oncology clinics that use radioactive materials.

Amendments to the agreement will allow completing the installation work and training of the staff that works with the equipment. The term of the Agreement is extended for seven more years until 2017.

The implementation of the Agreement in Lithuania is coordinated by Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The amendments to the document will come into force when the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania ratifies them.