News

On 6 December in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the progress achieved during Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in addressing protracted conflicts, the issues of bilateral cooperation and transatlantic security.

At the meeting, the officials exchanged opinions on the negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement, international Geneva Discussions on Georgia and the country’s Euro-Atlantic perspective. Head of the U.S. diplomacy took particular interested in Lithuania’s opinion about the developments in Belarus and welcomed Lithuania’s leadership in consolidating the transatlantic policy in this country.

The Minister and H.Clinton also discussed bilateral cooperation and the issues on the transatlantic agenda: NATO’s forthcoming summit in Chicago and the operation in Afghanistan. The U.S. Secretary of State especially appreciated activities of Lithuanian troops and civilians associated with the operation of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and to train Afghan security forces. The Minister thanked the U.S. for supporting a long-term decision on NATO’s air police mission in the Baltic States that could be taken in Chicago.

Attention was also given to Russia’s statement about the deployment of defense missiles and tactical nuclear weapons in the Kaliningrad region. Support was voiced for Lithuania’s leadership in the European Union’s energy policy and for Lithuanian energy projects, including the Energy Security Center, which started working in Vilnius and could become NATO’s Centre of Excellence.

A.Ažubalis also acquainted H.Clinton with Lithuania’s priorities for coordination of Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE). In 2012, Lithuania will coordinate the activities of the framework that fosters the cooperation between the U.S. and the Baltic and Nordic countries.