U.S. Congressional staff delegation visits Lithuania
On May 25-28th, the U.S. Congressional staff delegation paid an official visit to Lithuania. This visit was organized under the auspices of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Lithuania to the U.S. The goal of this visit was to present the members of Congressional staff delegation the objectives of the foreign policy of Lithuania, to promote inter-parliamentary relations of the U.S. and Lithuania, to discuss prospects for bilateral relations, energy, economic and cyber security issues, the situation in Eastern Partnership countries, Russia and other international policy issues.
Bipartisan U.S. delegation was represented by staffers from the offices of the U.S. Senators and the Members of the House of Representatives, most of whom work in the committees of Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Energy, Commerce, Armed Services and Appropriations. The delegation included five Democratic Party representatives and three Republican Party members.
During the visit in Lithuania, the Congressional staff delegation had an opportunity to learn about the successful operation of Klaipėda LNG terminal, which significantly contributed to strengthening Lithuania’s energy independence, paid a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had a meetings at the Seimas with members of the Foreign Affairs, National Security and Defense Committees, the group for Interparliamentary Relations with the U.S. They also had a meetings at the Presidential Palace, at the Ministry of Defense and LITGRID - a government-owned company running the national power system and responsible for managing strategic electricity integration projects. The delegation also visited resort city of Palanga, Tolerance Center of the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum in Vilnius, stopped at the January 13 Memorial with barricade fragments near Lithuanian Parliament and had a tour in Vilnius Old Town.
The U.S. Congressional staffers' visits to the Baltic States are held twice a year. Visits are organized in cooperation with Latvia and Estonia.
