CANADIAN MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE VISITS LITHUANIA
Peter Gordon MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defence, visited Lithuania on January 14-16, 2009 to participate in an informal meeting of leading European and North American foreign policy strategists on the challenges facing the Euro-Atlantic community. The second annual Snow meeting, hosted by Lithuania in Trakai, was also attended by Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden and other high-ranking European and North American officials, policy-makers, opinion-formers and political analysts.
During his visit, Minister MacKay was received by the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, and also met with Foreign Minister Vygaudas Ušackas, Defence Minister Rasa Juknevičienė and members of the Parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee.
Minister MacKay expressed appreciation to the President for Lithuania’s contribution to the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan, recognizing its leadership role in the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor Province and the work of Lithuanian special forces in southern Afghanistan.
Lithuanian officials discussed deepening political, economic and defense cooperation between Lithuania and Canada with Minister MacKay, including: support for NATO aspirants Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova; energy security; strengthening of NATO capabilities; NATO air-policing mission in the Baltic States; bilateral military cooperation.
