News

On 27 June on the Greek island of Corfu, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas took part in the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, during which the problems of cooperation between NATO and Russia were evaluated and areas of Council’s future activities were discussed.

“Our common security challenges compel us to bring our relations to a new stage. We are strong supporters of cooperation in the NATO-Russia Council. A lasting cooperation however is built on trust and fulfilment of international commitments. Therefore, we have to discuss a full range of issues, from agreements to disagreements,” said V.Ušackas.

The cooperation between NATO and Russia was suspended following the Russia and Georgia conflict, and, according to Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, it will require time and efforts to move the relations back to the previous level.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy stated that it was important to build the dialogue not just at the governmental, but also at the parliamentary level.

This is the first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at ministerial level, after the decision was made during NATO’s Summit on 4 April to resume formal meetings of the NATO-Russia Council. Following Russia’s military action in Georgia in early August 2008, the Alliance had suspended formal meetings of the Council.