Lithuanian FM visiting Estonia for foreign and security policy talks

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Friday is on a working visit to Estonia, where he will attend an informal meeting of foreign ministers from the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in the town of Vihula and speak at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

At the CBSS Ministerial Session, Budrys and his counterparts from nine other countries, along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, will discuss pressing foreign and security policy issues, the resilience of critical infrastructure, safe navigation in the Baltic Sea and directions for reforming the council, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministers will also sign a joint memorandum on protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

The document will call for stepping up cooperation to enhance the resilience of seabed cables and pipelines, secure supply chains, improve EU countries' underwater monitoring and rapid repair capabilities, and expand cooperation with the private sector.

In Tallinn, Budrys will also take part in the Lennart Meri Conference panel discussion titled "Baltic Sea Security: Shadow Fleet in Shallow Waters."

The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an informal forum established in Copenhagen in 1992. It brings together ten countries from the region: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Germany.

The EU foreign policy chief also takes part in CBSS meetings.

The council's foreign ministers traditionally meet each year in the country holding the rotating presidency to discuss key regional, security and global issues. Estonia currently holds the presidency.