Moldova and Lithuania sign new defense cooperation agreement

By Alexandru Josan, Public Affairs Office

CHISINAU, May 18, 2011 — The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova and the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania concluded today, May 18, the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which is a revised version of the 2006 agreement. The document was signed in Vilnus during Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta’s visit to Baltic countries, Lithuania and Latvia.

The Moldovan Defense Minister stated the defense cooperation agreement provides both Republic of Moldova and Lithuania new opportunities to enhance defense cooperation relationships and promote mutually-beneficial bilateral relations.

„Due to this agreement, our militaries will have a wide area of cooperation, focusing on defense and security policy, crises management, peace support and humanitarian operations, defense and military legislation, defense budget planning and establishment, and last but not least, military science and history”, the Minister of Defense specified.

The Lithuanian Minister of Defense, Rasa Jukneviciene, claimed that the forms of cooperation of the above agreement will cover a wide variety of activities.

„These activities will include high level official and working visits, meetings of experts and exchange of experience in the agreed areas, seminars, conferences, training courses, military exercises, cultural and sports events”, Jukneviciene stated.

The delegation of the Moldovan Minister of Defense is formed of Brigadier Gen. Igor Cutie, Chief of Land Force Command, LTC Vladimir Ababii, Chief of Defense Policy and Planning Directorate, and Vitalie State, Head of Division of Defense Policy and Planning Directorate.

Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta and his delegation were met by the military honors at the Lithuanian National Defense Ministry’s Headquarters. A military ceremony was organized May 18 morning on the Moldovan Minister’s of Defense visit to Lithuania. The event brought together Minister of National Defense of Lithuania, Rasa Jukneviciene, Republic of Moldova Ambassador to Lithuania, Igor Klipii, and other Lithuanian officials. The military band played the anthems of Republic of Moldova and Lithuania, and the guard of honor marched to honor the visit of the Moldovan Minister of Defense.

Then, Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta had a meeting with the Lithuanian Minister of Defense, Rasa Jukneviciene. The officials discussed about bilateral cooperation and regional security issues. They exchanged opinions about the perspective of engagement in international operations. At the end of the meeting, Vitalie Marinuta and Rasa Jukneviciene concluded the Moldovan-Lithuanian Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Minister Marinuta and the members of the Moldovan delegation will also meet with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Egidijus Meilunas, and a few Lithuanian Parliament representatives. The agenda also includes a visit to „General Jonas Žemaitis” Military Academy and Šiauliai Airbase.

On the other hand, during the visit to Latvia that starts May 19 evening, Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta and the Moldovan delegation will meet with a few Latvian officials such as: Deputy Minister holding the Presidency of European Union, Minister of Defense, Artis Pabriks, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valdis Kristovskis, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, Lieģis Viesturs, and Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš.

The parties will focus their discussions on the Moldovan-Latvian defense bilateral activities results and future cooperation priorities. They will also touch upon the defense reform and the consolidation of civilian control of the army.