News

On 16 December, high-ranking U.S. military officers, studying at National Defense University (NDU), attended Lithuanian Embassy in Washington. Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States Vygaudas Ušackas presented to the students of NDU, also called the U.S. “smithy of generals”, the relations between the U.S. and EU, Lithuanian contribution to strengthening of transatlantic relations and to implementation of democratic and free market values in the Eastern neighbour countries of the EU. V. Ušackas underlined that in the context of global economy and transatlantic relations it is important to acknowledge the changes after EU enlargement: nowadays the EU is the biggest market, the biggest economy and the biggest exporter in the world. According to the Ambassador, though the EU is an “economic superpower” the “exercise of it’s growing military and defence powers” depends on the strength of transatlantic relations. “If we want to restore firm relations in the Alliance, based on common goal and responsibility, both Europe an the United States have to show mutual respect, patient diplomacy, to have clear vision and to have leaders, who are ready to implement this vision”, - the Ambassador said. He emphasised that the development of democracy in broader regions of the Near East, the reactivation of peacemaking process between Israel and Palestinians, the transformation of Iraq and forthcoming elections, the problem of Iran’s disarmament, the implementation of democratic and free market reforms in the Eastern neighbour states of the enlarged European Union will be the most important issues in transatlantic relations agenda. V. Ušackas is sure that “common U.S. and EU actions through the mediation of Polish and Lithuanian presidents in settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine showed, that Europe and America operating together might find a solution to the most complex situations, and this would serve to advance democracy and freedom in the region and all over the world”.