News

On February 13, consultations on the integration to NATO of the three Baltic states were held in Spain. Rytis Paulauskas, Director of the MFA Multilateral Relations Department, headed the Lithuanian delegation. During political and military consultations the Baltic states presented their aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration and their National NATO membership programmes to Spanish officials. Chairman of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly Rafael Estrella indicated at the meeting with the Baltic representatives that these countries had made a considerable progress towards achieving accession to the Alliance noticing that in a military sense they are better prepared for membership than Spain at the time of its entering NATO. Baltic officials also met with Chairmen of the Spanish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and Defence Committee who also guaranteed their support of the Baltic states' NATO membership aspirations. "Spain's position is clear - we are supporting you, and your NATO membership is beneficial both for you and for us", Chairwoman of Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Isabel Tocino pointed out. The issues of integration to NATO and political priorities of Spain's EU Presidency were discussed with officials of the Spanish MFA and Government Advisers for Security Issues. By the trip to Madrid representatives of the Baltic states' Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries started a tour of general political and military consultations in South European NATO states. The tour is meant to secure the support for the invitation of the Baltic states to the Alliance. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia closely co-operate in the spheres of security and defence and support each other's aspirations to accede the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.