As NATO is celebrating its 70th anniversary and Lithuania her 15th anniversary in NATO this year, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence and NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Vilnius are beginning a cycle of projects “NATO Day in a Region — Come, See, and Learn About Those Who Protect Us!” in Varėna and Merkinė. Such events are planned to be organised in four more cities of Lithuania by the end of the year.
“Communicating with Lithuanian people, pursuing common goals is one of the top priorities of my unit. For those of us who are concerned about the redeployment of NATO forces, knowledge of the area is critical. With our 14 different country troops, we already have visited almost half of Lithuanian municipalities,” Commander of the NATO Force Integration Unit Lithuania Colonel Jakob Søgård Larsen said before taking part in the Varėna event.
According to NFIU Commander, NATO soldiers meet people who are curious, civic, respectful and guarded during the visits. “In all regions, we are fascinated by the beauty of nature, the nurturing of culture and respect for military forces. I know another great visit to VARĖNA is upcoming,” Colonel of the Danish Armed Forces in charge of the NATO Force Integration Unit since its inauguration in 2015 said.
Residents of Varėna and Merkinė will be invited to meet with NATO soldiers, attend a variety of lectures, discussions, displays of weaponry and equipment, and learn about the activities of the NATO forward Presence Battalion Battle Group, Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, 1st Territorial Unit of the Dainava Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Forces, NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.
During “NATO Days” residents of different regions will not only be able to meet with soldiers, listen to lectures about the world’s strongest military Alliance and take part in discussions, but also to view weaponry, equipment and gear used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the NATO forward Presence Battalion Battle Group.
The aim of the project “NATO Day” is to present NATO organization and its activities in various regions of Lithuania. NATO troops will also visit Kėdainiai, Rokiškis, Biržai, and Anykščiai this year. The five municipalities were selected from all the applications received in response to the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence to organise a NATO event in the region to commemorate the 70th NATO anniversary and the 15th Lithuania’s anniversary in NATO.
The NATO Force Integration Unit has been inaugurated in Lithuania in September 2015 and in operation since. Its mission is to ensure and facilitate a fluent and efficient deployment of the NATO Very High Readiness s Joint Task Force (VJTF), and other NATO units in Lithuania. NFIU tasks in Lithuania also include support to allied exercises and other assurance measures, contribution to Lithuania’s defence plans, and identification of infrastructure objects necessary for a rapid deployment of allied forces in Lithuania.
During peacetime the NFIU staff is 40-strong and comprised by international and Lithuanian Armed Forces soldiers. The staff is currently provided by 14 NATO countries. The decision to establish NATO Force Integration Units in 8 member states — Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary — was taken by NATO Heads of States and Governments at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014.
“NATO Day in a Region” programme in Varėna and Merkinė
30 May 2019
Varėna
1000–1045hrs Meeting with high school communities of Varėna, weaponry and technical exhibition by Varėna Technology and Business School (J. Basanavičiaus g. 1)
1145–1330hrs Meeting with residents of Varėna, weaponry and technical exhibition in the square of Varėna Region Municipality (Vytauto g. 12)
Merkinė
1600–1700hrs Meeting with staff and residents of the municipality, weaponry and technical exhibition at Darius ir Girėnas Square.
POC: NFIU Officer Maj Marius Geležiūnas, [email protected], +370 659 10834
Photo credit: NFIU
