News

On 6 April during the conference “Lithuania and NATO: an agenda for the future” at the University of Klaipeda Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis stressed, that NATO has been and currently is an important actor in the  international arena.

 According to the Minister the North Atlantic Alliance responds to the new challenges - international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by restructuring and enlargement.

Foreign Minister underlined that Lithuania considers the most important that the relevance of the 5 Article of the North Atlantic Treaty concerning collective self-defence would not decrease because of the transformation of the Alliance.

“The principle of collective self-defence - “one for all and all for one” - has been and should remain the foundation of the Euro-Atlantic space. Therefore we want to secure this basic principle of the alliance,” Minister Valionis said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also emphasized that Lithuania holds NATO enlargement not less important, consequently our country actively supports these processes both in the Balkans and towards the East.

“Expansion of the security and stability area in Europe, where universal values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law are cherished, would improve Lithuania’s geopolitical position,” the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy stated.

Mr Valionis stressed that strong and mature civic society could and should be the best protection against internal threats. Strengthening of society’s resistance, public spirit and solidarity is a task crucial for Lithuania’s security.