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On 28 March, a debate dedicated to the seventh anniversary of Lithuania’s membership in NATO “Lithuania’s Neutrality: Geopolitical Illusion or a Goal?” was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis noted that the country’s policy of neutrality seven decades ago was not successful and the people of Lithuania payed high cost, therefore, we could not repeat this mistake today.

“Quite often the word ‘neutrality’ is associated only with positive things, it is believed that ‘neutrality’ means some exclusive self-sufficiency, impartiality, and, especially, nonparticipation, i.e., a refusal to take part in a war between other powers. Due to this misconception seven decades ago we had a very painful experience: three occupations of our state in four years and the resulting tragedy of the people of Lithuania,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

The Minister also stressed the paradox of neutrality – whether it was possible to be free of commitments, the duty to defend human rights and respect to the self-determination of peoples and countries. According to the Minister, neutrality is even a greater illusion in this global world today than in 1939.

According to Minister A.Ažubalis, NATO is primarily the Alliance of common values, therefore, Lithuania’s membership goal that was first officially recorded in 1994, was completely natural.

“Of course, membership has not solved all of our security problems – the most pressing ones are in the energy sector today. However, even there we have already laid foundation for broader NATO’s activities. The Energy Security Centre that was opened in Vilnius on 14 January 2011 is the best example of this,” the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy said.

The Minister emphasized that NATO was “a guarantee of our and our common values’ ​​security and continuity”, but an important thing was often neglected, which is commitments.

“Defense has its costs, but if we all agree that Lithuania’s security and values are invaluable, then we will also understand that it is the matter of our honour and responsibility to pay the price,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

At the debate, historians, political scientists and diplomats analyzed the differences between the Lithuanian foreign and national security policies in 1930-1940 and in 1990-2011, a book “Lithuania in 1938-1939: Neutrality Illusions” by historian Algimantas Kasparavičius was presented, as well as the research paper “1939 – The Year That Changed Everything In Lithuania’s History” by historian and political scientist Šarūnas Liekis.