Lietuva in brief - 2010-10-14

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, has thanked Lithuania for helping Russia to fight forest fires, reports ELTA. In the letter of Oct. 5, which is addressed to Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis, Minister Lavrov thanked Lithuania for giving a helping hand to Russia during the natural disaster. Minister Lavrov noted that the aid to Russian fire-fighters and the victims helped to more quickly localize forest fires in the European part of Russia, to reduce the damage and to eliminate the effects of the forest fires. Lithuania responded to the request for technical assistance in combating the fires that Russia sent in August. Lithuania sent humanitarian aid - respirators, respiratory protection devices, fire hoses and a set of fire-fighting water pumps (a trailer) - to the neighboring country.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus paid a visit on Oct. 8 to the Ministry of National Defense and met with Minister Rasa Jukneviciene, while conducting an official visit in Lithuania, reports ELTA. In the meeting top ranking officials discussed cooperation between Lithuania and the U.S. in the defense sector and affirmed further strengthening of the area. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan was also addressed. The importance of joint U.S.-Baltic military training events was emphasized, and their continuation to further develop U.S.-Baltic military cooperation was approved. In the meeting energy security and military transit via the Baltic States were also touched upon. Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius and other high representatives of the Ministry and the Armed Forces also met with Secretary Mabus. Ray Mabus is the 75th U.S. Secretary of the Navy (the corresponding position in Lithuania: Vice Minister).