On 4-6 June the City Hall of Vilnius will house Wilton Park's conference The Changing Security Environment in the Baltic Region which will examine the prospects and role of the Baltic States in the framework of international and regional security. How can Baltic regional security be improved, including through further co-operation among Baltic neighbours? What measures could promote greater confidence between the Baltic states and Russia? How can the obstacles be overcome? What are the prospects for the Baltic states joining NATO? How does the EU accession process contribute towards security? How can the US best support security in the Baltic region? The conference is organised by Wilton Park, an Executive Agency of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Lithuania's Foreign Ministry.
The conference will be addressed by President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus. Taking part will be European Committee's under Government of Lithuania Director General Petras Auštrevičius, Russian Institute of Strategic Studies Senior Researcher Sergei Bolshakov, Poland's Foreign Ministry's Under-Secretary Andrzej Byrt, Danish Foreign Policy Institute's Director Per Carlsen, Former Director General of External Relations of the European Council Brian Crowe, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry's Secretary Evaldas Ignatavičius, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Giedrius Čekuolis, Latvian Defence Minister Girts Kristovskis, Lithuania's Defence Minister Linas Linkevičius, Norway's Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Kim Traavik and other prominent politicians, diplomats and representatives of academic societies.
Wilton Park’s conferences are kept deliberately small, with 50-70 people present for round-the-table discussions in which everyone is encouraged to join in. Participants come from a wide range of nationalities and professions. Most are in a position to make a direct impact on policy; on average over 60 % are from government. The others are mostly from NGOs, business, universities, Parliament and the media.
For several years, Lithuanian diplomats have been making efforts that prestigious Wilton Park's conference would take place in Vilnius. At such an important period before the NATO Summit in Prague, and pending decisions on EU enlargement, Lithuania has a good opportunity to hold an international forum and introduce its position on security issues.
Media representatives are invited to participate to the opening session.