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Eleven Lithuanian political parties agreed on commitment that the expenditure for national defence in 2005-2008 will amount to at least 2 percent of GDP. The “Accord of the Parliamentary Parties of the Republic of Lithuania” signed on 17 March continues agreement reached among the Lithuanian parliamentary parties regarding Lithuania’s defence policy for 2001-2004. “This agreement reflects Lithuania’s determination to be an active contributor to the security,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said in his speech welcoming this accord of the parties. According to him, this new document clearly testifies that “we will continue with the reforms and fulfil all the commitments, which we took on with accession to the Alliance”. The agreement was signed by the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the New Union (the Social Liberals), the Liberal and Central Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Homeland Union (the Lithuanian Conservatives), the Union of the Farmer’s and the New Democracy Parties, the Labour Party, the Young Lithuania, the Lithuanian Poles’ Electoral Action, the Moderate Conservative Union. The Lithuanian Christian Democrats also stated their intentions to join the accord. Last week the Lithuanian Parliament ratified the North Atlantic Treaty. Lithuania will become a full-fledged member of NATO in the end of March, when the ratification instruments will be deposited in Washington.