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Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis welcomed the decision taken by the North Atlantic Council on 12 October to accredit the Vilnius-based Energy Security Centre. The Minister stressed that this was the most wonderful assessment of Lithuania’s membership in the Alliance.

According to the Minister, the emergence of such an international institution in Lithuania sets yet another example of the Alliance’s visibility in our region and is a perfect assessment of Lithuania’s membership in NATO.

“This once again proves that our strong political will and cooperation of Lithuanian institutions in shaping the energy security agenda are beneficial to NATO,” Ažubalis said.

He also congratulated the Centre’s Director, Ambassador Audrius Brūzga, all the staff of the Centre, as well as other institutions which contributed to the accreditation.

The approval of the North Atlantic Council – the principal political decision-making body within NATO – of the Centre’s accreditation means that Lithuania’s Energy Security Centre is to become a NATO-accredited Energy Security Centre of Excellence.

After its accreditation, Lithuania’s Energy Security Centre under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be activated as an International Military Organization under the Ministry of National Defence. The new Centre of Excellence will have headquarters on the campus of the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. Its staff will be made up of representatives from the founding countries.

The Military Committee - the senior military authority in NATO – also approved the Centre’s accreditation on 8 October.