Chairman of the NATO Military Committee to Pay a Visit to Lithuania

June 21, 2012 defpro.com

On June 21-22 Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels will be paying a formal visit to Lithuania by invitation of Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius.

During the visit meetings of Gen K. Bartels with Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, minister of National Defence Rasa Jukneviciene, Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronis Azubalis, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius, and representatives of the Committees on National Security and Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

At the meetings discussions over NATO defence plans, contribution to multinational operations, involvement of Lithuanian military in the organisation and execution of NATO exercises in the Baltic Region, relevant points of the Baltic Air Policing mission, and energy security issues are expected to be conducted.

Gen K. Bartels will be paying his first formal visit to Lithuania as the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. Danish General assumed the position in January 2012 succeeding Italian Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola. Before the current posting Gen K.Bartels was the Chief of Defence of Denmark. In 2004 – 2006 Gen K. Bartels was the Commander of the Danish Division to which the Mechanised Infantry Brigade “Iron Wolf” of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is affiliated.

Lithuanian Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius is also a member of the NATO Military Committee – the supreme NATO military institutions which renders consultations to the North Atlantic Council. The Military Committee includes 28 NATO Chiefs of Defence or Representatives of State. The Chairman of the Military Committee is elected on a four year basis.