On Friday, 21 May Lithuanian National Defence Minster Linas Linkevičius met with the Finnish parliamentary foreign affairs committee delegation, headed by Chairperson of the Committee, Liisa Jaakonsaari.
Participants of the meeting exchanged their opinions on European Union security policy and NATO future prospects. The Minister underlined that the EU and NATO should avoid redundancy in activities in the areas of security and defence. „ It is not so important under whose flag crisis management operations are carried out. Unified planning and procedures for unified decision making are important, „ said L. Linkevičius. The meeting also discussed the role and influence of small countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The parliamentarians also showed interest in priorities of security and defence policy, defence capabilities development.
The participants of the meeting considered a possibility to intensify a bilateral military co-operation between Lithuania and Finland. An annual bilateral co-operation plan between the two countries is planned to be signed an early date. An agreement concerning protection of classified military information is also expected to be concluded.
L. Jaakonsaari, the head of the Finish parliamentary delegation, invited Minister Linkevičius to visit the Parliament of Finland during his visit to Finland scheduled to take place in autumn later this year.
The Finish parliamentary delegation consisting of members of foreign affairs committee came to Lithuania on Thursday, 20 May. During its visit to Lithuania, the delegation visited the Rukla – based Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, where they showed interest in military training, living conditions of servicemen. The Finnish parliamentarians also met with Acting Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Česlovas Juršėnas, Foreign Affairs Minister Antanas Valionis.
Memorandum of Understanding concerning military co-operation between Lithuania and Finland was signed in summer 2001. Finland actively participates in the activity of the Baltic Security Assistance Management Group, BALTSEA. The Group co-ordinates Western security and defense assistance to the Baltic States, assists Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in implementing multilateral military co-operation project.
