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On 12 March, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis signed a document of Lithuania’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. On 10 March, the Lithuanian Seimas (the Parliament) approved ratification of this treaty opening the doors to Lithuania’s membership in NATO by the overall majority of votes. On 11 March, Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas signed the law on ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty, the document of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty and request addressed to US Secretary of State Colin Powell to deposit it. In the accession document, Lithuania undertakes “faithfully to perform and carry out the stipulations” contained in the treaty. The process of ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty will end when Lithuania will deposit the accession to the North Atlantic Treaty instruments with the US Government. The US will announce to Lithuania the date of depositing the instruments by a note, which will be assumed the official beginning of Lithuania’s membership in NATO. It is believed to happen before 29 March. The North Atlantic Treaty was concluded on 4 April 1949 in Washington.