On March 26-28 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas will conduct a formal visit in Moldova.
On March 27 the Lithuanian Chief of Defence will be formally welcomed in front of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Moldova in Kishinev, then he will meet with Chief of the General Staff of Moldova Brigadier General Igor Cutie and representatives of the Moldovan Armed Forces. Meeting with Minister of Defence of Moldova Eugen Sturza is also scheduled. The meetings are expected to address security challenges, progress of the Moldovan military reform, and prospects of bilateral military cooperation.
Later Lithuanian Chief of Defence's delegation will visit the Alexandru cel Bun Military Academy to familiarise with its activities and capabilities.
On March 28 Lt Gen J.V.Žukas is planned to visit the NATO Liaison Office opened in December in Kishinev. Chief of Defence is planned to discuss the activities of the Office, cooperation of NATO and Moldova, and the progress in defence reform with Head of the Office Kristina Baleišytė.
Lt Gen J. V. Žukas will conclude the visit by familiarising with the structure, capabilities and objectives, and viewing weaponry and equipment at the 2nd Motorised Infantry Brigade of the Moldovan Army.
It is a return visit after the visit by Moldovan Chief of Defence Brig Gen Igor Cutie in June in Lithuania. The Lithuanian delegation will be escorted during the visit by Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Moldova HE Rimantas Latakas and Lithuania's Defence Attaché in Moldova Col Algirdas Norkus.
Lithuania and Moldova have been developing defence cooperation since 2006. Lithuania supports the Moldovan Armed Forces in the areas of military education and training, funds studies of Moldovan soldiers at the Baltic Defence College, provides advice on military medicine, military conscription, capability planning, reserve training, public relations, NCO training, and career system.
Photo: visit of the Moldovan Chief of Defence in Lithuania, 8 June 2017 (credit: A. Pliadis)
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Major Mindaugas Neimontas
+370 5 278 5091, +370 682 25359, mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
