News

On 14 February in Washington, D.C., Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis who is paying a visit to the U.S.A. and heads of the shipping company Maersk Line assessed first attempts to transport cargo via Lithuania to Afghanistan and discussed further cooperation in cargo transit. The world-known shipping company is authorized by the U.S. government to transport cargo for NATO operations in Afghanistan. Maersk Line is responsible for planning and coordination of the transit of the U.S. cargo via the seaport of Klaipėda and through Lithuania’s territory to Afghanistan.

The participants of the meeting stated that the cooperation began successfully in 2010 and the first NATO cargo through the seaport of Klaipėda had reached Afghanistan smoothly.

Cooperation with other transit countries, enhancement of cargo check at the Klaipėda seaport and expansion of cargo transit were also discussed.

The Minister thanked heads of the company for their confidence in the Lithuanian transport and transit potential and emphasized that Lithuania was ready to advance this successful cooperation.

On 14 February in Washington, D.C., Minister A.Ažubalis, as the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), also met with Ambassadors of the European Union countries in the United States and acquainted them with the objectives of Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship.

When discussing the progress of Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship, the Minister discussed his recent visits to Ukraine, Moldova and Russia. Minister A.Ažubalis asked the EU Ambassadors to support Lithuania’s efforts to renew formal negotiations in the 5+2 format on the status of Transnistria in Moldova, increase attention to the freedom of the media, and support the autonomy of the OSCE institutions and continue strengthening them.

Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy acquainted the Ambassadors also with Lithuania’s efforts to resume activities of the OSCE Office in Minsk.