NDC SC 114 visited Vilnius, Lithuania, 11-13 June. The Commandant started with an office call to the CHOD, Lt Gen Valdas Tutkus, before they both joined the SC, where the CHOD himself gave an introduction to the topics to be covered later in the day. He also pointed at the possibilities and challenges a nation has when they build a military from scratch.
NDC thanks CHOD for this since it is important to the SC that they meet the CHOD when they are visiting a country.
Mr Saulis Gasiunas, Director of Euro Atlantic Cooperation Department, Ministry of National Defence, lectured on “Security Situation in the Baltic Region and the Lithuanian Defence policy Agenda”.
The Commander of Lithuanian Military Academy, Brig Gen Edvardas Mazeikis gave an introduction to the Academy and pointed at the difficulties to reach critical mass and how this lead to the creation of the Baltic Defence College.
Dr Gedeminas Vitkus, Director of Political Science Department, Lithuanian Military Academy, briefed on the “Baltic Security Question”. He especially stressed that Lithuania has joined the West, but still is depending on Russia when it comes to energy.
The series of presentations were finished of with an unusually open and frank presentation of “Priorities of foreign policy of Lithuania for the year 2009”, by Mr. Eitvydas Bajarunas, Ambassador-at-Large, Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that Lithuania is Central European, while Estonia and Latvia are Baltic/Nordic. Lithuania wants an open door policy in EU, including for Türkiye, and support membership of Ukraine and Georgia in NATO.
All security and foreign affairs presentations were followed by intensive question and answer periods, and especially the straight-forwardness of presentations and responses from the political side gave valuable insight in the challenges facing the new members to NATO. The visit was a very good preparation for the visit to Moscow, the next stop on the Field study.
The administrative organization of the days in Vilnius was impeccable and made life easy for the Course members and spouses. The cultural program for the spouses included a very nice tour of the Old town of Vilnius and a visit to the Trakai, the cradle of Lithuanian statehood. The CHOD hosted a reception at a marvellous restaurant, in a beautiful setting, offering typical dishes that gave an insight in the food traditions of Lithuania.
Prepared by Captain Harald Hakonsen, NOR N
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN