Lithuania's Nauseda, Germany's Gauck talk regional security, Russia threat

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda met with former German President Joachim Gauck in Vilnius on Wednesday and discussed regional security and Russia's threat to global security.

The two politicians also discussed bilateral relations and defense cooperation, the Lithuanian presidential press service said.

They also exchanged views on the future of Europe and the priorities for the European Union’s global action, as well as addressed issues of historical memory, with special emphasis on the need to counter disinformation and historical revisionism.

The Lithuanian president underscored his appreciation of close cooperation with Germany in the field of security and Lithuania’s strong commitment to collective security.

Gauck is visiting Lithuanian as Lithuania's Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) will grant him an honorary doctorate degree later in the day.

According to the university, Joachim Gauck is granted the title of VMU Honorary Doctor for his achievements in the fields of international cooperation, peacekeeping and strengthening of democracy, and for his significant contribution to fostering the values of freedom, justice, and solidarity.

Following the award ceremony, the guest would hold a discussion with students on how the neo-Stalinist regime of Vladimir Putin became entrenched in Russia due to the absence of desovietisation, the university said in a press release.

In 1967, Gauck was ordained an Evangelical Lutheran priest. Because of this, and because of his undisguised anti-communist views, he was under constant surveillance by the East German secret police (Stasi).

In 1989, Gauck took part in anti-communist protests in East Germany and founded the opposition movement New Forum, which contributed to the downfall of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.

From 1990, he served for a decade as Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records Agency. This institution helped uncover the crimes of the former communist East German secret police.

In 2012, he won the presidential election of the Federal Republic of Germany and served the five-year term until 2017.