NATO Secretary-General George Robertson arrived in Prague Wednesday to discuss Czech Republic's progress in upgrading its armed forces and integration with the Alliance, which it joined two years ago.
Published:
23 February 2001 y., Friday
He arrived from Moscow, which is fiercely opposed to any further NATO expansion to the east, following the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into NATO in March 1999.
The main topic of discussion would be Prague's plans to buy between 24 and 36 Western-built supersonic jets planes to update its aging Soviet-era airforce, Robertson told state television before his arrival.
Czech President Vaclav Havel recently told AFP that Moscow "has not right to oppose NATO enlargement" into ex-communist countries in central and eastern Europe.
Robertson is also likely to discuss the outcome of his talks in Moscow, as well as preparations for a NATO summit in Prague in late 2002, officials said. The ailing Havel will meet with Robertson in hospital, where he has been for over a week after suffering a relapse of lung problems which forced him to cut short a foreign trip, his spokesman said.
On Wednesday Robertson was due to meet Havel, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and Defense Minister Vladimir Vetchy. On Thursday he will meet Prime Minister Milos Zeman as well as parliament speaker Vaclav Klaus and Senate speaker Petr Pithart.
Šaltinis:
Agence France Presse
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
President Dalia Grybauskaitė sent a letter to the participants of the ceremony of unveiling a commemorative plaque in Washington Square in Vilnius to mark the seventieth anniversary of the US Department of State Declaration on the Non-Recognition of the Annexation of the Baltic States.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė on behalf of herself and the people of Lithuania extended congratulations to His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, on the occasion of Independence Day.
more »
On 20 July at the international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis affirmed that Lithuania would continue fulfilling commitments and contributing to the stabilization and development of Ghor Province.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė presented letters of credence to Žygimantas Pavilionis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to the United States of America.
more »
Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis welcomed the official launch of European Union-Georgia talks on Association Agreement.
more »
Lithuania’s honorary consuls are expected to contribute consolidated efforts to achieving today’s key tasks of Lithuania’s economic diplomacy – the promotion of Lithuanian exports and attraction of foreign direct investments.
more »
Victory in the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris) stands as a symbol signifying the hope of the Lithuanian people to seek freedom and independence, President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined at the celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Grunwald Battle.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė, together with Polish President-elect Bronisław Komorowski and prominent Polish state and public figures, took part in the festive celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris).
more »
Yesterday evening, after the wreath-laying ceremony at the Grunwald Monument and the opening of a special exhibition at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, President D. Grybauskaitė of Lithuania and President-elect B. Komorowski of Poland had a working dinner together.
more »
Wednesday, 14 July, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, is to meet with her Romanian counterpart, Traian Băsescu, who is to pay an official visit to Lithuania.
more »