Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas: US leadership lies in Lithuania’s interest

Press release, 30 May 2017

Photos of the Office (author Džoja Gunda Barysaitė)

On 30 May 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Members of the US Congress to discuss bilateral cooperation between the US and Lithuania as well as security building in the Baltic region. While briefing the Congressmen on the current situation in the region, Mr Pranckietis focused on Lithuania’s Plan on Ukraine 2017–2020. In the words of the Speaker of the Seimas, US leadership lies in Lithuania’s interest.

A special focus at the meeting was on nuclear safety in the region. The threat posed by the unsafe construction of the Astravyets Nuclear Power Plant was highlighted in particular.

Strong Lithuania and security in the region lies in the interest of the US, the Speaker of the Seimas said before praising the closeness and continuity of the links between Lithuania and the USA. He also appreciated the contribution of the US towards strengthening Lithuania’s energy security.

“We encourage the United States of America to make use of the opportunities offered by our Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Klaipėda for liquefied natural gas imports to the Baltic region,” Mr Pranckietis said. In his opinion, the US would thus contribute even more effectively to building energy resilience of its allies and the entire Alliance.

The meeting also touched on the presence of US troops in the Baltic countries and the Baltic deployment of US military equipment and weaponry.

Participants of the meeting with the Speaker of the Seimas were Senators of the US Congress Alexander Lamar, John Kennedy and Steny Hoyer, and Member of the House of Representatives David P. Roe.

Dalia Vencevičienė, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6016,

mob. +370  698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]