Kaliningrad missle building threatens region’s peace

VILNIUS - The European Union (EU), NATO and their member states do not pose any threat to the Russian Federation and do not consider Russia as their enemy, the Lithuanian and Polish Committees on Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement ‘On Confidence Building in the Area of Security Vis-a-Vis the Russian Federation,’ reports ELTA.
The document was signed by Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Emanuelis Zingeris of the Seimas of Lithuania and his Polish counterpart Grzegorz Schetyna.

The Lithuanian and Polish Committees think that in the framework of Russia’s modernization aspirations, the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation could become the pilot region for cooperation among Russia, the EU, and NATO.
The MPs object to the argument of Russia that the strengthening of military capabilities in the Kaliningrad region is a response to the missile defense system developed by NATO. That argument is utterly unfounded and goes counter to the spirit of the NATO-Russia partnership.

“The interests of each state in the Baltic Sea region and Euro-Atlantic area will be best met by constructive cooperation on the basis of mutually shared principles of transparency and confidence when developing the interstate relations built on mutual respect and equality,” the joint statement says.
The document also notes that the lack of transparency and confidence in the military field may obstruct the development of a true partner relationship among the EU, NATO, and Russia.
The MPs call on the governments of Poland, Lithuania, and each EU and NATO member state, in its dialogue with the Russian Federation, to make an assessment of the increasing military potential of the Russian Federation in the EU and NATO neighborhood and to aim at transparency and confidence building measures as well as fulfillment of reciprocal commitments.

Lithuanian and Polish MPs are convinced that the approaching NATO Summit to be held in Chicago on May 20-21 will mark an important stage in further strengthening of the Alliance’s collective defense, ensuring stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, and developing constructive and confidence-based relations with NATO partners, Russia included.