Presidents of Latvia and Lithuania emphasise importance of successful cooperation between special operations forces for ensuring national security.
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and President of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers on working visit in Lithuania observed international exercise of special operations forces Balts Will on the Baltic coast and at sea on Wednesday, August 20.
Having observed special operations forces complete exercise tasks and reviewed equipment and armaments used in the exercise, Lithuanian and Latvian country leaders underscored that exchange of experience of both countries' armed forces is a crucial factor in ensuring relevant preparation of armed forces for countering contemporary threats.
"The current exercise is evidence that special operations forces of Latvia and Lithuania are able to develop cooperation and deliver joint operations successfully", President V. Adamkus said. - The ability to deliver such interoperability in NATO operations is assuming more importance than ever. I believe that joint exercising of special operations forces provided a significant step forwards."
President of Latvia stressed that readiness of the armed forces to respond to emergency threats and terrorist attacks is one of its fundamental attributes.
"Coordinated operation is becoming more and more important. This exercise is a good example of cooperation, President V. Zatlers said. - Threat of terrorism always demands rapid response. During this exercise we could observe readiness of our forces to address such situations in interoperable manner."
The exercise is expected to enhance close cooperation between the neighbouring Latvia and Lithuania, spur exchange of gained experience, refine interoperability level of NATO counterterrorist units, and to concord communications, combat tactics and other crucial issues as well as to assure relevant preparation for NATO members' special operation forces' exercise in Romania due this autumn.
The Balts Will exercise is conducted with particular attention to air and water operations, special operations forces are joined by elements of air and naval forces responsible for completion and provision of counterterrorist operations.
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