Opinion
Georgia
Uncategorized
Why the West will eventually make up with Russia on Putin’s terms
Six years ago, when Russia attacked Georgia and tore off the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Western countries were, as always, “very concerned”, sent out their observers, provided humanitarian support and Nocolas Sarozy, the then President of France, volunteered to mediate in settling the conflict. […]
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Lithuania calls on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine and not to annex Abkhazia
At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, the Lithuanian ambassador called on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine and refrain from actions which would mean a de facto annexation of Abkhazia. […]
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Lithuanian foreign minister: Russia wants to legitimize annexation of Georgian breakaway regions
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said during a visit in Georgia that Russia‘s proposal for Abkhazia to sign a special agreement is an attempt to de facto annex the region. […]
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Defence
Georgia joining Vilnius-based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence
NATO’s Energy Security Centre of Excellence operating in Lithuania will be celebrating the first enlargement – Georgia is joining the centre as a contributing partner nation, the Ministry of National Defence said on Wednesday. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian defence minister expresses support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations
On Monday, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas discussed regional security and Georgia‘s Euro-Atlantic aspirations at a meeting with Irakli Alasania, Minister of Defence of Georgia, in Tbilisi. […]
Opinion
Opinion
European Union
Eastern Partnership is dead. Long live Eastern Partnership
Without much of a fervour or pomp last week saw the end of the most prominent and quite efficient couple in the Foreign Affairs Council. Carl Bildt and Radoslaw Sikorski left the stage and took up their new roles. It’s an end of an era and I am afraid also an end to their most precious pet project of the two gentlemen – Eastern Partnership. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuania ups dialogue on security and defence policy with Eastern Partnership countries
Round table discussion over co-operation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is taking place on Wednesday on the initiative of Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union. […]
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Defence
President Grybauskaitė: Lithuania’s goal at NATO Summit is to strengthen region’s defence
On 4-5 September, President Dalia Grybauskaitė is attending the NATO summit in Wales. In the face of a military threat to Europe, NATO leaders are discussing new measures to ensure security of the member states and the whole region, the presidential press service said. […]
Opinion
Edward Lucas: Russia is winning
I have been dealing with European security for more than thirty years, as an activist during the Cold War, as a journalist, and at think-tanks1. […]
Opinion
Opinion: In Wales, NATO will have to decide what it is
The NATO summit on 4-5 September in Wales can be considered the most important meeting of NATO member state leaders since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America. Paradoxically enough, at the beginning of planning the meeting, it was not entirely clear what the leaders should discuss. […]
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Kremlin said to be developing plan for partitioning Georgia
Since the start of this year, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea and pushed for Ukraine’s “federalization.” The severe international concern caused by these actions was further compounded last month (August 2014) by Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statement in Yalta that after Moscow subdues Ukraine, it will move against other post-Soviet countries in order to rebuild the Russian Empire. Not surprisingly, many countries in the region have thus been forced to consider where the Kremlin might move next and what means it might employ against them—from demands for “federalization” to open aggression. […]
Defence
President Grybauskaitė: NATO Summit in Wales is an event of vital importance
In an interview with LRT radio the President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that the meeting of the presidents of the three Baltic States with the President of the United States of America (USA) Barack Obama means that the region has very strong support and its concerns are taken seriously. According to her, the NATO summit, which will take place in Wales right after this meeting, is vital in the current geopolitical situation. […]
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Lithuanian opposition MP says “politicised accusation campaign” raging in Georgia
Member of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), former foreign minister Audronius Ažubalis has called on Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius not to ignore developments in Georgia, one of the Eastern Partnership countries. […]
European Union
Implementing EU trade deals in the borderlands could prove complex
Talks have begun between Russia and the pro-EU former Soviet states of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The sides are assessing how recently signed free trade deals with the European Union will impact the countries’ trade relations with Russia. The effect will be muted for now, but the agreements could have a larger impact in the future if each country adopts them fully. Full implementation will be challenging because of Russia’s influence and political instability in the three nations.
Analysis […]