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On 10 November Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas discussed with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who paid a visit to Vilnius, topical issues related to the forthcoming NATO Summit in Riga, NATO mission in Afghanistan, reforms of the Alliance’s partnerships, other security policy issues.

“It’s a pleasure for me to visit Vilnius before the meeting in Riga and discuss important security policy issues with Lithuanian leaders,” NATO Secretary General noticed. He also mentioned that he always held Lithuania up as an example of what a state with relatively limited resources can do for international security and stability.

In Riga NATO Heads of State are planning to confirm that the Alliance transforms in order to respond to the new security challenges and remains a strong union of collective defence. This is the main forum that brings together North America and Europe to tackle the most important issues of international security.

“The fact that the Summit is organized in a capital of one of the Baltic States confirms that we are successful and reliable Allies,” Minister Vaitiekūnas said.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister and NATO Secretary General also discussed Lithuania’s civil reconstruction projects in Ghor Province of Afghanistan. Currently NATO devotes special attention to the mission in Afghanistan.  The participants of the discussion underlined the importance of coordination of activities and cooperation of international military and civil institutions, non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan.

Minister Vaitiekūnas stressed Lithuania’s support for NATO’s ‘open-door’ policy.

“We should assess the efforts of the states participating in the Membership Action Plan – Croatia, Macedonia and Albania trying to get closer to the Alliance,” the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy stated.

The necessity to continue active NATO cooperation with Georgia and Ukraine supporting the Euro-Atlantic integration course of these states and helping them to implement necessary reforms was also emphasised.

During the discussion on NATO-Russia cooperation, which is important to Lithuania, it was concluded, that in the future this partnership should be also based on transparency, mutual assistance and good neighbourhood policy.

“NATO is the forum where we can address security issues that we are concerned about. Therefore we would like to see such issues as energy security on the agenda of the Alliance,” Mr Vaitiekūnas said.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has visited Lithuania for the fourth time. Today he met with the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas and the Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and left for Tallinn.