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Meeting high US officials in Washington, D.C., Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister Justas Vincas Paleckis heard favourable evaluations of Lithuania’s work in preparation for NATO membership. The US representatives laid special emphasis on successful reforms of the Lithuanian armed forces, a strong support of Lithuanian public for the country’s membership in NATO and decision to contribute in practice towards strengthening peace in Afghanistan by sending Lithuanian troops to this country. The Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister finished his two-day visit in the capital of the US on 29 October. In Washington, D.C., Vice-Minister Paleckis met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Robert Bradtke, Special Assistant to the President of the US and Senior Director for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried, Director of the State Department’s Office of European Security and Political Affairs Walter Andrusyszyn, foreign affairs advisors at the Senate and officials of the State Department. The Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister reassured US officials that both until and after the NATO summit in Prague, Lithuania would carry on with its commitments. „If we are invited to become NATO members in Prague, it will be a decision of historic importance, which will crown the foreign policy efforts of twelve-year-long Lithuanian independence aimed at integration into the transatlantic and European structures and improving relations with neighbours,“ Vice-Minister Paleckis said.