Meeting of the Baltic Military Council hosted by Riga, Latvia, on 21 and 22 of October, ended. In the meeting Lithuania was represented by the Chief of Defence Maj Gen Arvydas Pocius.
In the event military leaders of defence of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia discussed issues of NATO's Baltic Air-policing mission, development and officer training at the Baltic Defence College (Tartu), joint Baltic projects - Baltic Airspace Surveillance Network BALTNET, Baltic Naval Squadron BALTRON, etc.
Maj Gen A. Pocius shared relevant matters and future plans of the Lithuanian Armed Forces with his Baltic counterparts and brought forward a proposal to exchange such information regularly in every meeting to enhance coordination among armed forces of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
In the discussion over joint projects, possibilities of better management and reallocation of resources to the end of more efficient and economic exploitation were addressed. The meeting also discussed improving appeal of the Baltic Air-policing mission to incoming contingents. Chiefs of Defence touched upon military issues of NATO and the EU as well. Chiefs of Defence of the Baltic States meet are held traditionally twice per year.
The session in Latvia was chaired Maj Gen Raimonds Graube, Chief of Defence of Latvia. The following meeting is planned to be hosted by Lithuania next spring.
Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Tomas Balkus, phone (00370~5) 278 5091, cell phone: 8 682 25 359.
