Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, Einars Semanis. Matters of bilateral cooperation in connection with energy, security, transport and culture were discussed at the meeting.

The refugee crisis and its potential to disrupts politics in Europe was debated during October's third plenary session, with MEPs warning that some could use the issue to undermine the EU. MEPs also adopted plans to abolish roaming charges and better regulate net neutrality as well as proposals to tighten rules on GMOs and simplify the approval of novel foods, such as for example insects. In addition Raif Badawi was announced as the laureate of this year's Sakharov Prize.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius participated in the Nordic-Baltic Prime Ministers' meeting (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), held in Reykjavik, capital of Iceland.

Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, welcomed the newly appointed Hungarian Ambassador, Zoltan Jancsi. The Speaker used the opportunity to congratulate the Ambassador on the Hungarian National Day, as the 23rd of October, which marks the Hungarian Uprising, is a very important day for Hungary.

On 25-26 October, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius visited Berlin, where he discussed bilateral relations between Lithuania and Germany, the Eastern Partnership, and assistance to Ukraine.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė has been awarded the Collar pro Merito Melitensi, the highest Sovereign Order of Malta's order conferred in recognition of special merits in promoting charitable activities, volunteering, humanitarian values, and assistance to those in need.

On October 23 leadership of the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces of Belgium, Lithuania and Luxembourg discussed relevant issues of NATO and the European Union and prospects of bilateral cooperation at a meeting at the Ministry of National Defence. Delegations led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, Vice Minister of National Defence Antanas Valys and Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas met with the guests.

"We have to work together to implement the security assurance measures agreed at the NATO Summit in Wales and to prepare properly for the Summit in Warsaw," Minister L.Linkevičius said at the meeting with Belgium's Minister of Defence Steven H. M. Vandeput and Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Étienne Schneider.

Minister L. Linkevičius also thanked Belgium for the active participation in the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states and for posting an officer to the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Lithuania. Minister thanked Luxembourg for the country's contribution to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states. Luxembourg provides financial support that compensates the costs incurred to the countries deploying to the mission.

Ministers addressed the run-up for the NATO Summit in Warsaw and adaptation of the Alliance in the face of threats from east and south at the official meetings. Chiefs of Defence focused on the security situation, information security threats in the region and deployment to international operations and standbys.

Lt Gen J. V. Žukas, Chief of Defence of Belgium General Gérard Van Caelenberge and Chief of Staff of Luxembourg General Romain Mancinelli discussed deployment of troops in joint exercises in Lithuania. Roughly 300 soldiers from Belgium and Luxembourg are training in Exercise Baltic Piranha throughout October.

"I invited Chief of Defence of Belgium and Chief of Staff of Luxembourg to continue actively contributing land and air forces to the assurance measures in our region," Chief of Defence of Lithuania said.

On the first of the visit the guests observed Exercise Baltic Piranha in Jonava and at Gaižiūnai Training Area and met with military personnel from Belgium and Luxembourg training in the exercise.

Lithuania's cooperation with Belgium and Luxembourg

Belgium is a regular participant of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, the country was the first NATO ally to provide the a rotation of the mission in 2004 when Lithuania accessed NATO and has already carried out three rotations from Šiauliai Air Base since then. Luxembourg provides financial support to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states.

Armed forces of Belgium and Lithuania develop active cooperation in training fighter pilots and arranging combat search and rescue courses for Lithuanian military personnel. The Belgian Navy are an active participant of international mine countermeasures operations Open Spirit in the Baltic Sea. Belgian is also going to assign one officer to the NATO Force Integration Unit in Lithuania.

The Armed Forces of Luxembourg contributed to the development of the Lithuanian military capabilities in 2013 by donating 20 HMMWV all-terrain vehicles. A Reconnaissance Platoon from Luxembourg took part in international NATO Exercise Iron Sword in Lithuania in 2014.

www.kam.lt

On Wednesday, while on his working visit to Paris, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and other European Socialist Party and national leaders, including French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, signed a declaration encouraging signing an international agreement on global climate change this December in Paris.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė opened the first ever Israeli Litvak Forum in Tel Aviv. In her address to Jews with roots in Lithuania and their descendants, the President emphasized their special contribution to establishing Lithuania's ties with the world and invited them to foster what connects Lithuanian and Jewish nations.

On 21 October in Kyiv, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius met with the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Natalia Galibarenko. The officials discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements, preparations for the local elections in Ukraine scheduled for 25 October, and prospects for bilateral relations between Lithuania and Ukraine.