October 9, 2012 defpro.com
On Tuesday, October 9, Minister of National Defence Rasa Jukneviciene will depart for Brussels, Belgium, where she will be attending the NATO Defence Ministers meeting. At the meeting Ministers will address the impact of the economic recession on the allied defence capabilities, decisions made at the NATO Chicago Summit regarding the enhancement of defence capabilities, NATO role in Afghanistan after the completion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force’s mission in Afghanistan in 2014 and the situation in the Western Balkans.
At the Chicago Summit Heads of State and Government approved a series of initiatives that would allow the Alliance to sustain and generate the necessary capabilities through common efforts. One of the overriding questions was the employment of the opportunities that would open to the Alliance after decreasing its input in Afghanistan.
Army and police forces of Afghanistan increasingly take over the responsibility for security into their hands which is a necessary condition for the NATO’s ISAF countries to cut down the numbers of personnel deployed to Afghanistan. Lithuania has scheduled the handover of responsibility for security in Ghor to Afghan National Security Forces and a closedown of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT before the end of 2013. However, after the withdrawal of the PRT Lithuania’s Special Operations Forces and the Air Mentoring Team will continue operating in the south of Afghanistan.
Delegation of the Minister of National Defence is expected to return to Vilnius on Wednesday.
/fdata%2F4220908%2Favatar-blog-1207340840-tmpphpbvDubc.jpeg){kind=avatar}
