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On NATO's threshold: to make achievements irreversible Since the restoration of independence in 1990, Lithuania has gone through a successful political and economic transition process and developed into a mature modern democracy with a stable functioning free-market economy. We seek to ensure irreversibility of these positive developments in Lithuania and its international environment. This may best be attained through integration into the community of democratic states, NATO and the EU, based on the values, to which Lithuania adheres. Thus, our NATO membership aspiration is based on the commonality of basic values and goals with the current NATO Allies. At the Prague Summit Lithuania expects to be invited to the North Atlantic Alliance, a goal we have been pursuing since 1994. The Lithuanian aspiration of NATO membership is based on very broad political consensus and strong public support (68 per cent). Preparing for future NATO membership, Lithuania is implementing the Membership Action Plan (MAP) offered by NATO to the candidate countries in 1999. At the core of the MAP implementation lies the ongoing defence reform. Its scope and objectives have been carefully co-ordinated with the Alliance. The MAP implementation embraces all areas of the state’s policy and stimulates progress also on non-military issues. These include economic reform, employment policy, restoration of historic justice with regard to the victims of the World War II holocaust, anti-corruption measures, counter-terrorist measures, fight against organised crime, illegal migration and drug trafficking, proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction, environment protection and others. Lithuania has been making military contributions to NATO-led peace support operations in Kosovo and Bosnia, since the very start of the respective missions. The Parliament has also authorised troop contributions to the anti-terrorist Operation Enduring Freedom and to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. I am proud that the Vilnius process launched in Vilnius in 2000 proved to be a success. The activities of the Vilnius Group have contributed to promoting mutual solidarity, transparency, openness and co-operation among NATO candidates. Undoubtedly, V10 co-operation made a positive contribution to the enlargement debate and its dynamics. Since the end of the Cold War, the Alliance has gone through a transformation. Adapting to the new realities and changing nature of security threats, the Alliance assumed, in addition to its traditional core function of collective defence, the tasks of out-of-area peace support, as well as partnership and co-operation with all democratic nations in the Euro-Atlantic area. After the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Alliance started to reassess its institutional and military capabilities with the view to giving an adequate response to the new threat. Lithuania seeks membership in this new, modern Alliance that adapts its role in order to remain relevant in the new security situation. Lithuania is ready to make its political and practical contribution strengthening security in the Euro-Atlantic area as well as to adding constructively to the development of NATO’s new relationships. Implementing domestic reforms, maintaining friendly relations with its neighbours, implementing the MAP and already now associating with and contributing to Alliance policies, Lithuania has established itself as a reliable partner of NATO and a strong candidate for membership. Our accession to NATO is becoming a reality. Along with EU integration, NATO membership will ultimately embed Lithuania within the democratic community of the West. The decisions of the Prague Summit will be a historic landmark in modern Lithuanian history and will lay a strong foundation for the way ahead. It will bring us closer to our common vision of a Europe whole and free. Antanas Valionis Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania