"Lithuania expects Germany's active support at the NATO Summit in Warsaw. It is important to continue strengthening the Alliance's security. Therefore, Lithuania hopes that decisions regarding the establishment of a permanent NATO military presence in the Baltic States will be taken in Warsaw," said Linkevičius.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister said that German fighter jets had protected the Baltic airspace as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission already eight times (patrolled from the Air Base in Šiauliai five times). Last year and this year, Germany is participating in military exercises in Lithuania.
"This is our strategic ally's practical contribution to security in the region and in the whole of Europe," stressed Lithuania's Foreign Minister.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia. Linkevičius stressed that the international community must maintain a strong and unified position towards Russia, because only such position could deter aggressors from taking further action. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy said that the sanctions policy must be maintained until the Minsk accords were fully implemented by Russia. Otherwise, Donbas may turn into another frozen conflict and a cradle of instability for the region. According to the head of Lithuania's diplomacy, the European Union has to continue to support Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries.
Linkevičius underlined that the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline was an exemplary case of how Russia sought to break the unity of the EU.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister also drew attention to the fact that the Ostrovets nuclear power plant was being constructed at the EU border without compliance with the requirements of international conventions on nuclear safety and without coordination with neighbouring countries. Linkevičius believes that the issue related to ensuring nuclear safety at the border should remain on the EU agenda.
On 17-18 March in Berlin, Linkevičius also met with the Spokesman on European Union Affairs of the Alliance 90/The Greens group in Germany's Bundestag Manuel Sarrazin, the Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, Coordinator for Intersocietal Cooperation with Russia, Central Asia, and the Eastern Partnership Countries Gernot Erler.
The meetings focused on security, Ukraine, Russia, refugees, and the strengthening of bilateral relations. As regards the migrant crisis and its solutions, Linkevičius called for solidarity to address the crisis. However, firstly, the countries must implement existing agreements, more actively address the root causes of Europe's migration crisis, and strengthen cooperation with third countries.
Today in Berlin, Linkevičius will attend the discussion "The Media, Propaganda, Politics – Russia's Role in European Information Space" that was organised by the German Council on Foreign Relations in cooperation with the Embassy of Lithuania in Berlin.
