AMBASSADOR CONGRATULATED LITHUANIAN MILITARY, PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL EXERCISES
On 16th May 2013 Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė observed European Union battle group exercises, held at Westdown Camp military base.
More than one thousand military personnel from Lithuania, United Kingdom, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands take part in the exercises organised 2-18 May 2013. The aim of the training is to assess readiness of the command of the European Union battle group to deal with various crises, requiring action from the rapid response unit.
The Vice-minister of Lithuanian national defence Mr. Marijus Velička, Chief of Joint Staff Brigadier General Vilmantas Tamošaitis and King Mindaugas motorised infantry Battalion Commander Major Žilvinas Gaubys observed the exercises.
Ambassador congratulated Lithuanian representatives, tasked with responsibility to vigil in the European Union battle group from 1st July 2013. “Defence cooperation shows high professional aptitude of the Lithuanian military in peacekeeping and crisis management operations, also in assisting third countries in fighting terrorism”, highlighted the Ambassador in discussions with the Lithuanian representatives. The rapid response unit will be on call during the second half of 2013, which coincides with the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Hence, having fully operational and effective European Union battle group is one of the responsibilities of Lithuania in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy in building and strengthening the European Union crises response capacity.
