On February 7-11 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius will pay a work visit to USA where he and military authorities of the country will discuss NATO operation in Afghanistan, joint multinational training, US support to strengthening of Lithuania's defence capabilities, and other points of importance for both countries.
CHOD of Lithuania Maj. Gen. A. Pocius is planned to meet Chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike G. Mullen, US Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow, Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, and representatives of Lithuanian community.
In the meetings participation of Lithuanian Armed Forces in NATO ISAF operation in Afghanistan where Lithuania maintains a PRT in Ghowr and Special Operations Forces Squadron „Aitvaras"for counter-terrorism operations in southern Afghanistan will be addressed.
The meeting military authorities will also discuss results of the International London Conference on Afghanistan, joint exercise with USA in the Baltics, and possibilities of non-military transit of loads for NATO operation in Afghanistan across territory of Lithuania..
Chief of Defence of Lithuania is to express gratitude to USA for participation in NATO Baltic Air-policing mission and continued support to the Lithuanian Armed Forces via the. Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training Programmes tailored to strengthen redeployable capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces
During the visit Maj. Gen. A.Pocius also plans to pay a visit to the US Naval Academy to meet with leadership of the Academy and three Lithuanian cadets studying there.
This is going to be the first visit of Maj. Gen. A. Pocius since his appointment as Chief of Defence of Lithuania. Before current position Maj. Gen. A. Pocius spent two years serving in NATO Allied Command Transformation (USA) as Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) of the Joint Education & Training (JET) Sub-Division.
Picture by Alfredas Pliadis ( Lithaunain MoND).
