U.S. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY VISITS LITHUANIA
October 8, Ray Mabus, U.S. Secretary of the Navy paid a visit to the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and met with Minister Rasa Juknevičienė during an official visit to Lithuania. During the meeting the top ranking officials discussed cooperation between Lithuania and the U.S.A. in the defence sector and affirmed further strengthening of the area and addressed NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan. The U.S.A. representatives backed NATO's Baltic Air-policing mission when addressing projects of strategic importance in the Baltic States.
During the visit of the U.S. Navy Secretary the importance of the joint U.S.-Baltic military training events was emphasized, and it was decided to continue to further develop the U.S.-Baltic military cooperation. The issues of energy security and military transit via the Baltic States were also touched upon during meetings.Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius and other high representatives of the Ministry and the Armed Forces also met with Secretary Mabus.
After the meeting at the Ministry United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will proceed to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to meet with the Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. After that the guest will pay a visit to the Parliament to meet with the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defence Arvydas Anušauskas and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Emanuelis Zingeris.
Ray Mabus is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy (corresponding position in Lithuania: Vice Minister). United States Secretary of the Navy leads the US Navy and Marine Corps. He is in charge of the activity of the entire Department of the Navy, and formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of the Department.
Before joining the administration of President B.Obama R. Mabus held a range of top positions in Government and private sector. In 1988 R. Mabus was elected Governor of Mississippi. In 1994 he was appointed the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also has served in the US Navy.
More at: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ldr.asp?bioID=505
