“Moldova is one of the most advanced Eastern Partners. We fully back Moldova’s aspirations for integration into the European Union. We also welcome Moldova’s progress in the implementation of the Defence Capacity Building Initiative for Moldova and we are considering contributing to the process,” Minister J.Olekas said at the meeting.
Minister J.Olekas reiterated that Lithuania would continue providing full support to the Moldovan Armed Forces reform. “Lithuania is ready to engage in bilateral and multilateral formats to render support to Moldova as it strengthens its defence capacity and to provide consultations on defence reform. We will also continue supporting Moldova in the area of military training, Moldovan military personnel are invited to continue coming to study in Lithuania,” Minister J.Olekas said.
The Meeting Ministers expressed mutual delight about the fact that Lithuanian and Moldovan soldiers were training in joint exercises and welcomed Moldova’s efforts to introduce NATO standards and seek NATO interoperability in its armed forces. A platoon from King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion is planned to train in an international Exercise Common Effort 2016 in Moldova.
The previous meeting of Lithuanian and Moldovan Defence Ministers took place in Kishinev in November 2013. Lithuania’s Military Representative to Moldova is based in Kiev.
Later today the Moldovan delegation will visit the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) Lithuania, Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force, and the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
Also, Minister of Defence of Moldova A. Salaru is expected to meet with Mr. Artūras Paulauskas, Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Parliament of Lithuania.
The Moldovan delegation includes Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defence Aurel Fondos, Head of the Directorate for Defence Policy and Planning Colonel Alexandru Harea, and Advisor to the Minister of Defence Alina Pisica.
Lithuanian-Moldovan defence cooperation
Lithuania and Moldova signed an agreement on defence cooperation in 2006. The document was updated in 2011.
Lithuania is rendering assistance to Moldova in the area of military training: provides financing for Moldovan officers’ studies at the Baltic Defence College and English language training at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. Representatives of Moldova also attend international instructors courses at Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, and various courses delivered by the MD Jonas Basanavičius Military Medical Service.
In 2007 and 2011 Moldova sent observers to Exercise Amber Hope in Lithuania, certification exercise for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-14) before deployment to Afghanistan - in 2011,and Exercise Maple Arch – in 2012. This year a contingent of King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion is expected to train in international Exercise Common Effort 2016 in Moldova.