On July 17 Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius discussed emerging NATO challenges and points of transformation of the armed forces with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) General Jean-Paul Paloméros conducting a formal visit in Lithuania.
"It was a discussion of like-minded people who share their vision of NATO's sole in security and defence sector. NATO should progress from an executor of combat missions to permanent readiness and training for to provide response. From large-scale operations, take, in Afghanistan to regional exercises. Joint exercises in Poland and Latvia are scheduled to take place in the nearest future. All of that will be an assurance of our security here in Lithuania, too," Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said.
The meeting officials also focused on the aspects of Smart Defence - cooperation of the allies in finding cost-effective solutions in defence area, collaboration in military training, implementation of joint projects and missions. Plans of intensifying NATO's military training activities after the end of the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan were also touched upon.
Lt Gen A.Pocius accentuated the importance of a visit by SACT to Lithuania as the Allied Command Transformation (NATO ACT) in charge of NATO transformation, military training and exercises is also responsible for planning Baltic Region-hosted NATO's military training events.
"It is exactly what we seek: to have such exercises as Steadfast Jazz 2013 scheduled for this autumn or Steadfast Juncture 2012 that took place last year held in our region giving us an opportunity to train with NATO allies in our region," Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen A. Pocius said.
The guest was briefed on the security situation in the region, military exercises held in Lithuania and the activity of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius (NATO ENSEC COE).
General Jean-Paul Paloméros is conducting a formal visit in Lithuania on July 17 to 18 by invitation of the Lithuanian Chief of Defence.
NATO's Allied Command Transformation (NATO ACT) is one of the two strategic-level commands in NATO's command structure. It is in charge of the transformation ongoing in NATO structure and forces, enhancement of programmes and military training, assessment of new strategic concepts, formulation of doctrines and policy. Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT), is located in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Skomantas Povilionis, mob. phone 00370 682 25 359.
Photos by Ieva Budzeikaitė
