“Our heartfelt sympathies are with the families of the victims and those injured in the act of terrorism in Nice. We must stand united even more closely and step up the fight against terrorism,” Minister J.Olekas said at the meeting.
Minister J.Olekas referred to Lithuania’s contribution to solving the issues in the south and pointed out that the Lithuanian Parliament had approved deploying up to 30 Lithuanian military instructors to train and mentor Iraqi forces, and up to 20 soldiers – to Sophia, the European Union operation in the central part of the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia). The minister also notified the French Senator of Lithuania’s plans to increase its involvement in the UN operation in Mali.
Minister J.Olekas thanked France for its input into the security of our region.
France has been one of the most active participants of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States. The country has already deployed for air detachments, and will deploy again this September. France is one of the sponsoring nations of the NATO Energy security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius. The country deploys troops for training in Lithuania every year. Also, cadet exchange programmes are actively implemented and the Embassy of France funds the French language courses for military and civilian personnel of the National Defence System.
