From May 29 to June 1 Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces of Ireland Lieutenant General Seán McCann is conducting a formal visit in Lithuania. Meetings with Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius and other military and ministerial representatives as well as visits to the headquarters of the Lithuanian Land Force, Air Force and Navy are scheduled for the first visit of the Irish Chief of Staff in Lithuania. The guest will also make a tour in various divisions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy.
Lt Gen McCann and Lithuania's representatives are expected to discuss bilateral military cooperation of Ireland and Lithuania. Reforms in the Lithuanian Armed Forces will be presented to the Irish Chief of Staff, the top-raking military commanders of both countries will share their experience of participation in the United Nations, NATO and the European Union-led multinational operations, and address the opportunities of joint military training even, and other points.
Both Lithuania and Ireland are involved in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and military personnel of both countries have been assigned for standbys in the European Union Battlegroups (EU BGs). Ireland, hosting the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fifth time this semester, is also an active contributor to the EU-led multinational operations. Irish military are currently deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mali and Somalia. Lithuania, due to take over the EU Presidency from Ireland in the second half of 2013, have also assigned military personnel for the EU BG which will enter standby on July 1, two Lithuanian officers are serving with the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), and an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) formed by the Lithuanian Land Force's servicemembers is expected to be deployed to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia - Operation ATALANTA late this summer
POC: Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Skomantas Povilionis, cell phone 00370 682 25359.
Photo by: the Defence Forces of Ireland
