Press Release, 20 March 2013
Speaker of the Seimas, Vydas Gedvilas, received Col. Romualdas Petkevičius, Director of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, and Dr Arūnas Molis, Head of Strategic Analysis and Research Division of the Centre.
The participants of the meeting discussed the activities and goals of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, development of partnership, cooperation with other Lithuanian public agencies as well as other countries in launching common projects and looked into the future prospects of the Centre.
While recalling his official visit to Estonia and stopping at NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, Speaker Gedvilas underlined the importance of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence that is currently getting rooted in Lithuania.
According to Col. Romualdas Petkevičius, Director of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, the Centre is seeking to enhance NATO competences and capacities in energy security field. The Director of the Centre noted it was important to ensure that NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence was part of NATO agenda. He also invited Members of the Seimas to contribute to strengthening and development of this Centre.
The meeting with the representatives of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence was attended by Vytautas Gapšys, First Deputy Speaker, Algirdas Sysas, Gediminas Kirkilas and Petras Auštrevičius, Deputy Speakers of the Seimas; Benediktas Juodka, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Andrius Mazuronis and Emanuelis Zingeris, members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rasa Juknevičienė, Arvydas Anušauskas, and Gediminas Jakavonis, Members of the Committee on National Security and Defence.
The goals of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence include: support to development of military capabilities, improvement of efficiency and interoperability of military missions, provision of high-quality and expert support in energy security matters. The Centre provides scientific, technical and academic analysis on various aspects of energy supply and protection of critical energy infrastructure; provides recommendations and proposals on operational energy security, adaptation of alternative energy sources for military purposes as well development of environmentally friendly and efficient military capabilities. It is also involved in exercises and training.
On 12 October 2012, the North Atlantic Council gave accreditation to Lithuania’s Energy Security Centre under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which became NATO accredited Centre of Excellence. Consequently, the Centre gained the status of an international military organisation. North Atlantic Alliance member countries: Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, France, and Turkey are engaged in the activities of the Centre.
Rimas Rudaitis, Public Relations Unit, tel:+370 5 239 6132, e-mail: rimas.rudaitis@lrs.lt
