President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė welcomed the decision taken by the U.S. Government to transport shipments for the international mission in Afghanistan by transit via the Klaipėda Seaport.

“This is another sign that the dialogue between Lithuania and the United States is becoming closer and that mutually beneficial practical cooperation is delivering more tangible results. Freight transit from the United States will bring economic benefit to our country, and cooperation in this area will enhance Lithuania's contribution to international security,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

The first shipment from the U.S. for the international mission in Afghanistan is expected to reach the Klaipėda Seaport in December.

This decision of the U.S. Government is a result of intensive several month–long diplomatic negotiations between Vilnius and Washington.

The Klaipėda Seaport is already used as a transit port by Germany and the United Kingdom.