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Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis says that the dialogue between NATO and Russia has to be based on mutual confidence as it would allow and would encourage to discuss even very difficult issues, on which the countries do not always share views. The Minister noted this on 22 September at the informal NATO-Russia Council meeting in New York. The participants of the meeting highlighted the importance of dialogue and discussed possible areas of cooperation in the future.

Minister A.Ažubalis added that the dialogue with Russia had to be based on bilateral commitments and principles of human rights, freedom and rule of law.

The Minister stressed the importance of a constructive strategic cooperation in Afghanistan and reminded about the situation in Georgia, where tensions between NATO and Russia remained.

“Georgia’s issue should be considered in a broader context of European security, it needs greater attention of all of us”, Minister A.Ažubalis explained.

A group of countries, including Lithuania, encouraged Russia to act more flexibly while solving protracted conflicts, and supported the efforts by Moldova’s Government to consolidate the state.

Minister A.Ažubalis said that a dialogue on the creation of control mechanism for the conventional weapons in Europe was very important to Lithuania. The country is ready to participate in the process constructively, but only on equal grounds.