Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas will meet with the Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and the Minister of Security Force Fehmi Mujota in Kosovo, September 21–22.

Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas will meet with the Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and the Minister of Security Force Fehmi Mujota in Kosovo, September 21–22. J. Olekas will be the first Minister of Lithuania to meet with representatives of Kosovo Government after the declaration of country’s independence. The meeting will address situation in the Western Balkans, prospects of bilateral cooperation and Lithuania’s support to Kosovo.

Agenda of the two-day Minister’s visit also includes meetings with Lithuanian soldiers and policemen serving in Kosovo, and commanders of NATO KFOR and POLUKRBAT in which a Lithuania platoon serve.

Currently half-year rotation period of KFOR-18 is coming to an end. In the beginning of October the platoon will be replaced by KFOR-19 formed on the basis of the National Defence Volunteer Force Darius and Girenas District 2nd Territorial Unit.

Lithuanian Platoon is deployed with Polish-Ukrainian Battalion POLUKRBAT in the southeast of the country near Uroshevac town. The platoon is responsible for Kachanic region 40 km south from Pristine.

Two Lithuanian soldiers hold posts at KFOR HQ in Pristine. Another two Lithuanian representatives serve as military instructors at the NATO Training Regiment in charge of training KFOR since July. Lithuania has joined Kosovo operation since 1999. Minister of National Defence is accompanied by the Head of Lithuanian Armed Forces Joint Staff Brig. Gen. Algis Vaiceliunas, member of Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs Vaclavas Stankevicius, member of Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence Vytautas Capas, and representatives of the Ministry of National Defence.

Statehood of the Kosovo Republic was re-established on 17 January 2008 when Assembly of Kosovo approved the Kosova Declaration of Independence. Lithuania recognised independence of Kosovo on 6 May 2008, diplomatic relations between the countries were launched on September 1 of the same year. 47 nations have recognised independence of Kosovo to the moment.