News archive (2004 - 02)

On 3 February Lithuanian National Defence Minister Linas Linkevičius, who is currently visiting Washington D.C., met with the U.S. Secretary of Defence, Donald H. Rumsfeld.

While recalling his first visit to the Independent Lithuania in 1993, Mr. D. Rumsfeld said he was happy to be a witness of significant positive changes in Lithuania, reports the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the U.S. The U.S. Secretary of Defence underlined that Lithuania had made great progress and congratulated the country on the approaching NATO membership.

The U.S. Secretary of Defence thanked Lithuania for contributing its troops to the US-led missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and discussed with the Minister priorities of the US-Lithuanian military co-operation.

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Lithuanian National Defence Minister, Linas Linkevičius, who is currently in the United States of America, visited on 2 February the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle near Washington D.C.

The Minister took part in a round table discussion, which was held by the Security Studies Institute. The discussions focused on NATO and EU relations in the area in security, new political realities influenced by the Alliance development, Lithuania's role in NATO. L. Linkevičius underlined that it is necessary to preserve and strengthen an idea of collective commitment and thinking while in the process of NATO enlargement.

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On Sunday, 1 February Lithuanian National Defence Minister Linas Linkevičius leaves for a visit to the United States of America and Germany.

While in the United States, the Lithuanian National Defence Minister is scheduled to meet with the US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, visit the US Army War College, the US National Defence College, the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies, take part in a round-table discussion where participans are expected to discuss issues on  NATO collective thinking, decision-making and regional policy.

Between 6-8 February, the Lithuanian National Defence Minister will be visiting Germany, where he is scheduled to take part in the Munich Conference on Security Policy and attend an informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers.

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