THE PRESIDENT RECEIVED HIGHEST-LEVEL U.S. CONGRESS DELEGATION
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė received on Feb 4 a U.S. Congress delegation led by Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman. This is the first visit to Lithuania of such a high-ranking and large delegation of members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, accompanied by influential U.S. media representatives and political analysts. According to the Press Service of teh President, President Grybauskaite said: "The United States is Lithuania's key ally and strategic partner within NATO. The U.S. support has been a crucial factor in laying down collective defense principles in NATO's Strategic Concept. Partnership in the area of security, close dialogue on foreign policy issues and stronger bilateral economic relations - these are an important direction of our foreign policy in pursuing Euroatlantic cooperation".
The President said Lithuania was in favor of the EU sanctions to restrict entry to the European Union for a targeted group of Belarusian government officials and the decision not to impose economic sanctions.
"The European Union's policy of open doors for Belarusian people and the possibility for Belarusian citizens to travel freely within the border area of the Schengen zone as well as a simplified visa regime are the best way to demonstrate the advantages and benefits of democracy and of living in a free society," President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.
The President also underlined the importance of the new START treaty between the U.S. and Russia on the reduction of nuclear weapons and of its being a symbol of a responsible partnership and a tool to enhance transparency and promote international mutual trust.
U.S. Congressmen gave a very good evaluation of Lithuania's engagement in the international mission in Afghanistan.
