On April 8 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas met with his counterpart of Georgia, Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze visiting Lithuania. Ministers discussed regional security, bilateral cooperation, Georgia’s NATO integration, and Eastern Partnership.
“We will continue supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations at political level and with practical assistance. We see ongoing Georgia’s involvement in various NATO formats, however, we are making it clear: respect of the principles of democracy and memberships in Euro-Atlantic organisations are not dissociable. We observe Russia take advantage of political instability in neighbouring countries and instrumentalize it to obstruct their integration. We hope that the situation in Georgia’s internal policy will not undermine the progress already made,” Minister A. Anušauskas said after the meeting.
Minister also underscored to the guest and his delegation Lithuania’s priorities: the state and society of Lithuania resilient to hybrid and cyber threats, stronger Lithuanian Armed Forces, consistent increase in defence financing, and a growing public confidence in national defence.
J. Burchuladze was appointed Minister of Defence of Georgia in February earlier this year. He arrived in Lithuania from Latvia as he is conducting a tour in the Baltic states, his first foreign visit.
After meeting with Minister A. Anušauskas Defence Minister of Georgia and his delegation left for the Seimas from where the guests will proceed to Antaklanis cemetery to pay respects to the victims of the 9 April 1989 Soviet aggression in Tbilisi at the January 13 memorial. Georgia is also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the declaration of the Act of Independence and secession from the Soviet Union on April 9.
The Georgian delegation is also planned to visit the National Cyber Security Centre in Kaunas Thursday.
Tomorrow Vice Minister of Defence of Lithuania and Georgia Margiris Abukevičius and Lela Chikovani are planned to meet bilaterally and sign the bilateral defence cooperation plan 2021.
Major areas of bilateral military cooperation between Lithuania and Georgia are military training and education, cyber security, joint participation in exercises, support to NATO programmes in Georgia with additional focus on the Black Sea region. Lithuania is also ready to share its experience in fighting hybrid threats.
Photo credits: A. Pliadis / MoD.
