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On May 30, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis was in Budapest to take part in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council's meeting of foreign ministers for discussing cooperation and measures for increasing security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Valionis delivered a speech at the meeting, stressing the importance of the EAPC, the 'Partnership for Peace' program and the regional cooperation. The Minister also presented Lithuanian political and tangible contributions in ensuring security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and welcomed democratic changes in Yugoslavia and praised cooperation between NATO and the European Union in solving the security issues in the Balkans conflict. "As a candidate for NATO and the EU, Lithuania believes that a larger and better NATO and EU, based on open ties of cooperation and including the US's active participation, especially in the area of security, are essential for keeping the peace and stability in Europe," the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said. In Budapest Minister Valionis also took part at the meeting of foreign ministers from NATO candidate countries with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell. During the meeting Valionis emphasized that "it is now clear and that was confirmed by discussions during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session in Vilnius that the US position on NATO enlargement plays the major role, and it will be so in the future, especially on the acceptance of new members in 2002."