The coordinator of Lithuania's NATO integration efforts, Foreign Vice-Minister Giedrius Cekuolis, held a series of regular meetings with the
country's officials.
On January 9, Cekuolis, informally called "mister NATO", had his first meeting with officials of Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and
the State Security Department in charge of relevant fields of Lithuania's preparation for NATO entry.
The forum addressed security, military and legal issues related with the implementation of the Annual National Programme, adopted last year to
provide a constructive and objective evaluation of progress made by Lithuania.
A 25-member NATO delegation is scheduled to arrive in Lithuania in late January to evaluate fulfilment of the country's obligations in line with
the five chapters of its Membership Action Plan. Lithuania expects to be invited to the 19-member organization in 2002.
