16 March 1999
TEXT: ALBRIGHT, LITHUANIAN PRIME MINISTER STATEMENTS MARCH 16
(Discuss Lithuania's efforts to qualify for NATO membership) (460) Washington -- The State Department issued a statement following a March 16 meeting between Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius, stating that Albright "welcomed the progress Lithuania has made since the NATO Summit in Madrid ... to prepare for Alliance membership, especially Lithuania's determination to implement its plans for defense modernization and increased NATO interoperability." Vagnorius stressed his country's "readiness to assume the responsibilities and obligations of NATO membership" and said Lithuania will continue to pursue economic growth and defense modernization. They both called for increased U.S. investment in Lithuania, especially in the energy sector. Following is the State Department text: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman March 16, 1999 STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND LITHUANIAN PRIME MINISTER GEDIMINAS VAGNORIUS Secretary Albright and Lithuanian Prime Minister Vagnorius reiterated today their support for the U.S. Baltic-Charter of Partnership and its shared goal of the full integration of Lithuania into all European and transatlantic institutions, including NATO. The Secretary welcomed the progress Lithuania has made since the NATO Summit in Madrid to meet the criteria set out in the 1995 NATO Enlargement Study and its actions to prepare for Alliance membership, especially Lithuania's determination to implement its plans for defense modernization and increased NATO interoperability. She commended the Lithuanian Parliament for its commitment to raise the defense budget to 2% of GDP by 2001. The Secretary also noted the positive results of Lithuania's active regional diplomacy and its contributions to security and stability elsewhere in Europe, such as Bosnia, that are evidence of Lithuania's commitment to contribute to European security. Such efforts are an important factor that will be considered as the U.S. assesses the future qualifications of Lithuania for NATO membership. Prime Minister Vagnorius underlined Lithuania's readiness to assume the responsibilities and obligations of NATO membership, and his confidence that Lithuanian membership in NATO will serve European stability and the interests of the Alliance. He stated that Lithuania will continue to pursue economic growth and defense modernization, and expressed gratitude to the United States for its bilateral and multilateral support in the economic and security fields. The Secretary commended Lithuanian advances in developing the legal and financial conditions conducive to international investment, and expressed our hope that Lithuania would eventually be included in accession negotiations with the European Union. The Secretary and the Prime Minister expressed the hope that U.S. investment in Lithuania, especially in the energy sector, will increase. The Prime Minister emphasized that increased involvement by the U.S. business community in Lithuania is of strategic importance to his country. (end text)