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A High Level U.S. Delegation to Visit Vilnius to Discuss Lithuania's preparation for NATO membership.

October 9, 2002

Agreement on Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons Mass Destruction and Promotion of Defense and Military Relations to be signed between Lithuania and the United States

October 10, 2002 -- Vilnius, Lithuania. A high level US delegation will visit Vilnius to discuss Lithuania's preparation for NATO membership. The delegation will include the United States Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns, Deputy Assistant Secretary for NATO Robert Bratke, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nordic/Baltic States and North Central Europe, Heather Conley, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, Ian Brzezinski, US National Security Council Deputy Director for NATO and West European Affairs Kurt Volker, and others. This is the last visit of high level US officials prior to the NATO Prague Summit in November this year.

Meetings with Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, Minister of Defense Linas Linkevicius, and Seimas Chairman Arturas Paulauskas have been scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2002.

United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy Ian Brzezinski and Minister of Defense of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius will also sign a new bilateral agreement between Lithuania and the United States, pledging to work in partnership in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

This agreement titled, "Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Lithuania Concerning Cooperation in the Area of the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons Mass Destruction, and the Promotion of Defense and Military Relations", will enable the two governments to work more closely in the counterproliferation area. A similar agreement was signed earlier this year with Latvia and it is anticipated that one will be signed with Estonia.

Weapons of mass destruction include toxic or poisonous chemicals, disease organisms and radiation/radioactivity - weapons that can cause death to a significant number of people in a short period of time.

By this agreement both sides agree on how to prevent, deter, and investigate incidents regarding the movement of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and related material. Under the US Department of Defense's International Counterproliferation program, directed by the Office of Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the FBI, the US Customs Service, Department of State and other US agencies, the US will be providing the Lithuanian Government, particularly the Ministries of Interior and Defense, as well as the Rescue Service with both high and low technology investigative and response equipment during the course of this Agreement.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brzezinski said, "Consumption of this Agreement symbolizes Lithuania's commitment to join into a new partnership with the United States directed at confronting the problem by working together as equal states."

The above-mentioned agreement is not the first attempt of the US in assisting Lithuania to strengthen state border, transit, and export control.

On Friday, October 4, 2002, Ambassador John F.Tefft formally presented the United States Government transfer of $64,468 worth of laptop computers, printers, scanners, digital cameras, and a model 101Z X-ray van worth $282,220 to the Lithuanian Customs, Border Guards, and the Ministry of Economy representatives. This equipment has been acquired as part of the US Government Export Control and Border Security Program.

Another program named 'Tracker' aimed to assist to the Lithuanian Government in coordinating the Export Licensing System has been transferred to the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy. 14 Separate Lithuanian Government agencies started using the Tracker software package as of October 2002. The Tracker system assists the Lithuanian export control institutions and other relevant agencies in making licensing decisions on dual-use and arms related exports.

Press Events:

10.45h Lithuanian Ministry of Defense (signing of the Agreement)
10 min. only for press questions

12.00h Seimas 1st House lobby
Main press event of the visit

For more detailed information on weapons of mass destruction please contact Ms. Andra Litevkaite at the American Center (Tel. 2660330). US Department of State Electronic Journal paper copies focusing on WMD are available in English.