U.S. officer awarded medal for work in Lithuania

VILNIUS (BNS) - Lithu-anian Defense Minister Ceslovas Stankevicius awarded a medal "For Outstanding Public Services" on Aug. 10 to a U.S. military officer concluding her term in Lithuania.

The Defense Ministry reported that the Head of the U.S. Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation, Lt. Col. Maella B. Lehman, was awarded for her personal contribution to Lithuania's defense system.

The Defense Ministry's international relations department told BNS that Lehman will be replaced in the post by Maj. Paige Thorencen.

According to the U.S. Embassy figures, since the opening in 1995, the office has coordinated military financing to Lithuania by foreign countries worth $14.4 million. Since 1996 the Lithuanian Defense Ministry has received surplus U.S. military equipment worth more than $8.9 million.

In line with the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program, ODC pledges to support the Kaunas-based maps and cartography center. It will also help to enhance the capacity of Lithu-ania's military airports and the technical capability of air transport facilities of the Baltic states. It will also assist in purchasing air-defense and anti-tank defense systems and developing defense capabilities against nuclear and chemical attacks. And, finally, to develop English language skills.