When discussing the preparation of NATO’s new Strategic Concept, Foreign Minister stressed that after the Group of Experts presented the recommendations to NATO’s Secretary General on May 17, the preparation of the Concept moved into another stage, in which the process should remain fairly open. Member countries have to be guaranteed all possibilities to make suggestions regarding the Strategic Concept that is being prepared.

Maintaining the Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty as the key element of the Alliance remains to be Lithuania’s main priority.

It was stated that NATO’s open door policy would have to be continued. The Minister reiterated support for the decisions on the organization’s enlargement that were made at the Bucharest Summit.

The Minister informed ambassadors about the decision of the Government of Lithuania to set up a National Energy Security Centre in Vilnius starting from 1 January 2011.

According to Minister A.Ažubalis, NATO should play an appropriate role in the field of energy security. Therefore, the National Energy Security Centre will seek the status of a NATO accredited Centre of Excellence.

The Minister informed ambassadors about Lithuania’s effort in Afghanistan and highlighted that Lithuania’s commitments in this field remained unchanged.

Minister A.Ažubalis also thanked the allies for their participation in the NATO air police mission in the Baltic States.