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“Having arrived in Georgia and observing the situation on the spot, I agree with the assessments of the situation by the international community, that Russian military forces have crossed all red lines by crossing an internationally-recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia.

This is a clear act with visible elements of aggression and an outrageous violation of international law with grave consequences to regional and Euro-Atlantic stability and security as well as to Euro-Atlantic relations with Russia. 

Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory. All parties should immediately cease hostilities and resume swiftly the negotiations in order to find a political solution to this crisis, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

I will consult with my NATO and EU counterparts about the necessity to immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council as well as EU General Affairs and External Relations Council to assess Georgia's as well as regional and Euro-Atlantic security and review measures that NATO and the European Union can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation.

I agree that the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia”, says Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas. 

Lithuania will make a report about the situation to the extraordinary EU Political and Security Committee to be held next week in Brussels upon Lithuania's initiative.

 Lithuania has said more than once and today we can repeat again that it is necessary to change the present non-effective peacekeeping mechanisms and frameworks as soon as possible.

Today in Tbilisi Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas met with the representatives of all European Union countries and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili. 

Further on his agenda are meetings with the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and the joint negotiation team of the United Nations, OSCE and the EU which will work together in preparation of proposals for the further actions of international community in Georgia.