THE LAUNCH OF U.S.-BALTIC FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES WAS ANNOUNCED IN NEW YORK
On 23 September in New York, the governments of the United States of America and Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia announced the launch of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF).The launching ceremony was attended by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and foreign ministers of the three Baltic States: Lithuania‘s Audronius Ažubalis, Aivis Ronis from Latvia and Estonia‘s Urmas Paet.
BAFF has a mission to enrich the ties between U.S.A. and Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia through educational and exchange programmes. The foundation will provide financial support for the internships of the students and young experts from the Baltic States at the U.S. enterprises, it will grant scholarships for scientific research and studies at the U.S. universities.At the ceremony dedicated to the launch of the foundation, Minister A.Ažubalis said that this foundation was an important bridge between the young people of the Baltic States and the U.S.A., between future generations, future politicians, businessmen and scientists.
Deputy Secretary of State J.Steinberg also highlighted the importance of the ties between the societies of the Baltic States and the U.S.A. He said that the citizens of the Baltic States and their diasporas in America had always been a very active and positive strength, of which America was very proud.
BAFF was established in the beginning of 2010 and succeeds to the Baltic-American Enterprise Fund, which was functioning in the Baltic States from 1994 to 2008.
Currently, BAFF offers scholarships for post graduate studies, professional internships and participation in scientific research in the U.S.A. For more information on the foundation and the procedures for submitting applications please visit http://www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org/.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia also discussed the necessity to strengthen the political dialogue between the Baltic States and the U.S.A.
J.Steinberg confirmed that the U.S. Secretary of State was considering a possibility to pay a visit to the Baltic States. Lithuania plans to host ministerial meetings of the Community of Democracies and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Baltic States‘ ministers thanked the U.S.A. for taking care about the security of the countries. Preparations for the forthcoming NATO Summit were also discussed at the meeting in New York.
Minister A.Ažubalis noted the necessity for the Summit to discuss further enlargement of NATO and said that the enlargement issue should be stronger emphasized in NATO‘s new Strategic Concept.
The participants of the meeting agreed that the issue of Georgia‘s NATO membership had to be high on the agenda of the Summit.
