News archive (2010 - 04)

M. Ya‘alon discussed with Minister R. Juknevičienė points of military cooperation, took interest in the history and problems of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and shared of Israel's view on present challenges - the problem of Iran, the Islamic Jihad, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The guest dwelled upon the threat caused by Iran and fundamentalism on a whole, and explained reasons behind Israel's decisions.

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Agenda of the conference encompasses sharing up-to-date information related to activity of the Baltic States' land forces and experience of soldiers gained while performing duty in the NATO Response Force (NRF) in composition of the trilateral Baltic Battalion BALTBAT. Leading officials of the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian Land Forces also plan to touch upon perspectives of trilateral and multilateral cooperation in the future: including collaboration of the Baltic Battalion with the Danish Division, Danish Advisory and Training Team (DATS), and units of the US military forces in Europe.

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April 13, deployment ceremony of the eleventh rotation of Ghowr Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-11) and the fourth shift of the National Support Element (NSE-4) to the international mission in Afghanistan took place in the central square of Tauragė Town, at the town's castle.

The festive event began with a mass at the Holy Trinity Church of Tauragė and later proceeded to the central square of Tauragė where the leaving peacekeepers aligned in a solemn deployment formation.

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Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius extends sincere condolence to the Minister of Defence of Poland Bogdan Klich and the whole nation of Poland on the tragic loss of President Lech Kaczynski and the delegation including leading military and civilian officials in Smolensk, Russia.  

By order of the Minister of National Defence and Chief of Defence of Lithuania national flags were lowered in divisions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and in the square of the Ministry of National Defence to honour the memory of the departed.

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Since the decision to send troops of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces to ISAF operation was adopted in 2007, seven squadrons have been deployed to the mission in Kandahar province. Lithuanian SOF servicemen together with the allied forces conduct special surveillance, take part in combat operations, render assistance for local institutions of authority in taking over responsibility for ensuring national security.

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April 7-9, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius met with the Chief of Defence of Denmark Lt. Gen. Knud Bartels, Commander of the Danish Division Agnus Rokos, staff officers of the Danish Division, Lithuanian soldiers serving in the Division during an official visit to Denmark.

In the bilateral format CHODs of Lithuania and Denmark discussed points of bilateral military cooperation realized via participation in the international operation in Afghanistan, the training Denmark provides for Lithuanian soldiers, duty of the trilateral Baltic Battalion affiliated to the Danish Division in the 14th rotation of the NATO Response Force. The meeting military leaders of defence also exchanged views on the ongoing NATO reform and the currently developed NATO's Strategic Concept.

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On March 31-April 1 Brig. Gen. Kazimierz Jaklewicz, Commandant-Rector of the Land Forces Military Academy, and Head of the Department of Humanities Lt. Col. Krzysztof Klupa visited Gen. Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy, Vilnius. Agreement of cooperation signed during the visit will enable development of cadet and postgraduate exchange, and sharing experience of providing education and conducting scientific research.

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April 6, Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė received a phone call from the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow and discussed changes in the US nuclear policy narrowing and specifying circumstances of using the nuclear weapon.

„Naturally, the new US decisions will influence NATO's nuclear policy as well, therefore members of the Alliance hold discussions together and on bilateral basis ", Minister of National Defence said.

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April 7-9, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius will conduct an official visit in Copenhagen (Denmark) and meet with Lt. Gen. Knud Bartels, Chief of Defence of Denmark.

In the meetings Lithuanian and Danish CHODs plan to address points of cooperation between the national armed forces, NATO reform, and the new NATO's Strategic Concept.

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