NATO Secretary General goes to air policing base in Lithuania
The first port of call of the Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Lithuania was the Zokniai/Siauliai Air Base. The base hosts a detachment of German fighter planes, provided for the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States.
The Secretary General met there with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Defence Minister Rasa Jukneviciene. They discussed a broad range of NATO-relevant topics, including the strategic concept and new security threats. Together they met with the German air crew and the Lithanian ground staff and were shown the planes stationed at the base.
The Secretary General said he was impressed with the professionalism and dedication of all personnel involved in the mission. He described it as a reflection of NATO's long-term commitment and solidarity to the Baltic States.
Later on Mr. Rasmussen held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas in Vilnius. The Secretary General also delivered a speech at the Vilnius University.