On June 2009, a group of high rank representatives from NATO Defence College, supervised by Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter Loeser (German Armed Forces) visited Lithuania. The students came to Lithuania at request of Commander of Lithuanian Armed Forces Lieutenant General V. Tutkus.

While visiting different countries, the students were developing their knowledge in the areas of politics, economics and defence sciences. They were interested in how the policy of the countries they visited influenced Euro Atlantic security.

On June 12, the guests visited The General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. About a hundred of college students met Commandant of MAL

Brig. Gen. Edvardas Mazeikis.

The guests took part in two lectures and were involved in an active discussion with members of the Seimas, political scientists and diplomats. A lecture on the issue of security problems in the Baltic Sea Region was delivered by Dr. Gediminas Vitkus, Head of the Political Science Department of the Lithuanian Military Academy. The way of the Baltic States to NATO and the EU was introduced in the lecture; relevant aspects of ecological, communicative and energetic security were covered.

The guests were interested in the influence of Karaliaucius Region (Russian Federation) to Baltic security, and actively discussed the issue of strengthening energetic security in Baltic States.

A second lecture, which was delivered by Ambassador-at-Large, Political Director of Ministry of Foreign affairs of Lithuania Eitvydas Bajarunas, introduced priorities of foreign politics in Lithuania. The ambassador presented the structure of Consular Service in Lithuania and plans for strengthening energetic security of Lithuania aiming at effective recovery of economy of Lithuania, developing “East Partnership”, a neighbourhood policy, initiated by the EU.

NATO Defence College was established in Paris in 1951. In 1966 it was moved to Rome. Defence College is the most important NATO academic institution where officers and officials of NATO countries are trained to work in the alliance structure. The college provides courses for officers, officials and diplomats. Seminars, conferences on strategic, political and military issues are organised in the college. Several high rank Lithuanian officers, like the former Commandant of MAL Col. Arűnas Balciunas, are graduates of the college.

Arunas Alonderis