At his meeting with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, underlined that Lithuania aimed to consistently increase financing for the national defence.

“All the parliamentary parties are unanimous on this matter. We are making steady and consistent efforts towards increasing financing for the national defence. I hope that in 2016 it will make at least 1% of GDP,” stated Vydas Gedvilas.

NATO Secretary General assured being positive towards Lithuania’s efforts and recalled that investment was essential in guaranteeing the reliable defence. “We are talking here about solidarity, and the investment obligation of all the Alliance’s partners and finally about Europe’s role and weight in the global context,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The cooperation between NATO and the EU was also discussed highlighting the need to further develop and strengthen it. Vydas Gedvilas noted that these issues were debated at the conference dedicated to the European foreign, security and defence policy, held at the Seimas.

The NATO Secretary General thanked Lithuania for its contribution to the mission in Afghanistan. The Speaker of the Seimas assured that our country would consider possibilities for contributing further to this mission after 2014. Anders Fogh Rasmussen congratulated Lithuania and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “I am convinced that your Presidency will be a success, despite it being the first,” said the NATO Secretary General.

Vydas Gedvilas extended to the guest an invitation to the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius and expressed his hope that Anders Fogh Rasmussen would be able to come. “Your participation would be particularly important for us,” stated the Speaker of the Seimas.

Tomas Beržinskas, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6019, mob. +370 698 42 786, e-mail: [email protected]