On 1 April in Washington, D.C., the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Mauro Vieira and discussed the development of bilateral relations.

The Lithuanian-Turkish political consultation was held on 30 March in Ankara. The consultation focused on the intensifying political and economic relationship between Lithuania and Turkey, regional security, the fight against international terrorism, the cooperation between the European Union and Turkey, and the preparation for the forthcoming NATO Summit.

The Committee on Rural Affairs met with Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, on 31 March 2016 in the framework of the international exhibition Agrobalt 2016.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, who is visiting Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 30 March.

The key political and administrative reforms needed in Albania are progressing, but have yet to reach a stage at which EU accession negotiations could start, said Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs on Tuesday. Bosnia and Herzogovina's recent EU membership application was welcomed by MEPs, in a separate resolution, also voted on Tuesday.

March is known as a Month of Francophonie. The Days of Francophonie dedicated to the French language, culture, art and politics are thus arranged all over the world. The events to mark the Days of Francophonie held at the Seimas have become a long-lived tradition. This year, on 23 March, the Seimas hosted a discussion on Vocational guidance in France and Lithuania organised by the parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture together with the French Embassy in Lithuania.

On March 29 Lithuania will mark the 12 anniversary of NATO membership. Our country has become the member of the strongest defence Alliance in the world on 29 March 2004 upon depositing the instruments of ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington. NATO membership is the foundation of the security policy of Lithuania.

During bilateral political consultations in Moldova from March 22-24 representatives of the Lithuanian and the Moldovan Ministries of Defence signed the two countries' Bilateral Cooperation Plan 2016. Lithuanian delegation visiting Moldova was headed by Director of International Cooperation and Operations Department Robertas Šapronas.

We express our shock at the attacks in Brussels on 22 March 2016. We are appalled by these horrific terrorist acts, which we strongly condemn. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of these attacks, their families and friends.