In Košice, the President will attend the summit of eastern NATO countries, referred to as the Bucharest Nine. The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria together with Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Alliance, will discuss preparations for the next NATO Summit to be held next December in London.
The priority of Lithuania and other eight states is the further strengthening of defense and deterrence along NATO’s eastern border, which should ensure continuous allied readiness to respond to threats from the East, rapid and effective reinforcement, military mobility, regional air defense of the Baltic States, rapid decision-making, and better coordination of response to cyber-attacks.
Heads of state should adopt a joint political declaration during the meeting.
On March 1, President Dalia Grybauskaitė will meet with President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria to discuss relevant EU matters and the enhancement of bilateral cooperation. Nuclear safety issues will receive special attention at the meeting.
Lithuania and Austria share the same position on unsafe nuclear power plants under construction in neighboring countries in contradiction to and disregarding international nuclear safety standards. Austria understands very well the threats the Astravets power plant poses to all Europeans and supports Lithuania’s efforts to consolidate international support for nuclear safety.
Lithuania and Austria enjoy growing economic, scientific, tourism, and culture ties. A number of young Lithuanian artists choose to study in Austria. Kaunas University of Technology and Vienna University of Technology run mutual cooperation program, and Vilnius and Salzburg are partner cities. Considerable potential for bilateral economic cooperation also lies in sectors of high and financial technologies as well as life sciences.
