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On 5 April in Prague, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas took part in the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During the meeting, the situation in the EU Eastern Neighbourhood, Western Balkans, Middle East and Afghanistan was discussed.

Minister V.Ušackas, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband gave opening speeches on Afghanistan. V.Ušackas indicated that the goal of the international community in Afghanistan was not to act as a perpetual police enforcement force, but to stabilize the country and lay the ground for the “afghanisation” of the country’s security situation, that is, for the eventual transfer to the Afghan people of the responsibility for their own security.

“The Afghans have to be assisted in preparation for independent governance of their country, because our mission is not permanent,” said Minister V.Ušackas.

According to the Minister, the international community is determined to help Afghanistan to guarantee stability and security by disrupting terrorist networks and creating a peaceful environment for the forthcoming presidential and local elections, however, success in Afghanistan will also depend on an active and responsible government of Afghanistan.

Another factor of success in Afghanistan is the coordination of international community’s economic and military efforts. Minister V.Ušackas noted that the efforts of the international community – the EU, the United Nations, NATO and individual countries – in reconstructing Afghanistan would have a more beneficial effect, if there was a clear comprehensive strategy of action and a better coordination of activities in Afghanistan.

In the opinion of the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy, involvement of Pakistan could also become a strong factor, allowing for the stabilization of Afghanistan.

Minister V.Ušackas emphasized the importance of international assistance in more remote and less developed regions like the Province of Ghor, where Lithuania leads one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The Minister therefore suggested establishing a trust fund for the development of the country, which would ensure an even flow of international assistance reaching out to all the parts of Afghanistan more effectively.

On the situation in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, Minister V.Ušackas stressed that the region of the Eastern Europe stretching from Belarus to South Caucasus was one of the priorities on the transatlantic agenda.

According to the Minister, a mutual political message of the EU and the U.S.A. was very clear – we would continue developing the strategy of integration of the countries in the region into the Euro-Atlantic space.

“The current close EU-U.S. cooperation should contribute to the smooth and sustainable economic development, consolidation of democratic reforms, regulation of frozen conflicts in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood,” said V.Ušackas.

At the meeting, the EU and U.S. Foreign Ministers also issued a joint statement regarding the launching of North Korean long-range rocket. The Ministers urged North Korea to comply with international commitments and stop all nuclear weapons programs.