President praises NATO Strategic Concept adoption

LISBON - Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has praised NATO's new strategic concept, adopted at the summit in Portugal on Nov. 19, saying that Lithuania's contribution to the agreement has "produced results".

"Finally, we have a decision that will guarantee security to Lithuania for many years to come... I am very pleased that Lithuania's focused efforts have produced results and that in the seventh year of our membership we have concrete contingency plans, based on these core principles, for Lithuania and other Baltic states," the president said in a press release.

"This Summit is very important for Lithuania. The principles laid down in NATO's new Strategic Concept will provide real security guarantees backed by concrete defence plans for Lithuania for many years ahead. I am happy that thanks to Lithuania's resolute efforts, people of all of the three Baltic countries will enjoy higher security," she said.

The President pointed out that the new Strategic Concept provides for response to new threats, such as cyber attacks, energy dependence and isolation, terrorism. She stressed that the Strategic Concept also keeps the door open to membership in NATO to such countries as Georgia and Ukraine, if they have such aspirations and are adequately prepared.

Other issues to be discussed at the Summit include NATO transformation and optimisation and cooperation with other countries. A NATO-Russia Council Summit will also take place in Lisbon.