News

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its incomprehension of the aims of the statement made by Deputy Chairman of the State Security Committee (SSC) of Belarus Viktor Vegera, who alleged that on 9-11 November “young Belarusian oppositionists were taught to shoot at NATO base in Lithuania”.

The statement that appeared on the National Belarusian Television, Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, and in several Russian and Lithuanian newspapers contravenes the relations between Belarus, which participates in NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, and Lithuania.

Lithuanian Embassy in Minsk acts as NATO Contact Embassy. Lithuanian diplomatic representation in Belarus contributes to the implementation of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and informs about the values and activities of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Lithuanian Seimas and Governmental institutions promote these activities and encourage Lithuanian non-governmental organizations and the wider society to participate, thus providing better opportunities for direct communication between Lithuanian and Belarusian citizens.

Educational trips of Belarusian youth, teachers, academic community, representatives of various non-governmental organizations and journalists to neighbour Lithuania are organized regularly on the initiative of Lithuanian Embassy. A visit of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus is planned on 19-20 December.

These activities demonstrate open and confidence-based cooperation of NATO and EU member Lithuania and Euro-Atlantic organizations with whole international community – both with the countries striving for these organizations’ membership and these implementing different policy.

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses regret over the cancellation of the representatives’ of Belarusian Ministry of Defence trip on 21-22 December in the wake of the statement of SSC Deputy Chairman Vegera.

That could be one more step towards better mutual understanding, dispelling unfounded fears and helping understand better the role of the North Atlantic Alliance in the world, that joins efforts to overcome the threats to the international security.

Besides, on 8-9 December 2004 a group of Belarusian diplomats, officials from Defence and  Extreme Situations Ministries and the border service visited Lithuania to learn about provision of information about NATO to the society and various aspects of Lithuanian NATO membership.

This delegation, as well as many guests from Belarus and other countries, visited Lithuanian army's training centre in Rukla and had the opportunity to try out the shooting-range. The same opportunity was given to the students and representatives of non-governmental organizations, who visited Lithuania on 9-11 November.(see the programme of the visit here)

We also bring to notice that the non-existent trainings “Lat” mentioned by Belarusian and Russian media possibly originate from perverted name of Lithuanian non-governmental organization “LATA” (Lithuanian Atlantic Treaty Association). Information about aims and activities of this educational organization can be found on its web-site  www.lata.lt.

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that open cooperation between neighbouring states and nations without artificial obstacles will help to dissolve the disinformation about the training of non-existent terrorist groups in our country and other myths about our country - a member of NATO and the European Union.