NATO Secretary General says Lithuania knows the value of freedom
The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Vilnius on 19 January and met with President Dalia Grybauskaite, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and other high-level officials.
They discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in Chicago in May and in particular, how to improve the way the Alliance does business, so that NATO can stay capable and secure even in times of financial austerity.
“Lithuania is a country which knows the value of freedom”, the Secretary General said. “Throughout your history, you have stood up for liberty.”
The Secretary General praised the courage of generations of Lithuanians in creating a free, proud and independent country. He added: “We are committed to Lithuania. Your security is our security, and your concerns are our concerns.”
The Secretary General thanked Lithuania for the important role in helping to make Afghanistan safer and more stable. He also commended Lithuania for the role in the efforts to make NATO’s defence sector smarter.
“Your commitment is vital. NATO makes our Allies strong, but only our Allies can keep NATO strong. This Alliance is a true team effort – and the strength of the team is the strength of its members”, he said.