Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


APPENDIX 12

Memorandum submitted by Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania

  From the beginning of the conflict in Kosovo province of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in early 1998 Lithuania joined the active efforts of the international community to settle the conflict by peaceful political means.

  Lithuania had urged conflicting parties to observe and implement requirements set in UN Security Council resolutions. Lithuania's position is also consistently reflected in the joint statements by European Union and the associated countries and in various international fora. Lithuania had also joined common positions of the EU such as on freezing of funds held abroad by the FRY Government (6 May 1998), on additional restrictive measures against the FRY (6 May 1999) and some others.

  As an active OSCE member, Lithuania participated in OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission by sending six verificators who carried out their duties in the HQ in Pristina as well as monitored the situation in a field. At the moment one representative of Lithuania continues performing his duties in OSCE mission in Kosovo and eight other applications have been submitted for consideration to OSCE.

  During the Rambouillet talks Lithuania has expressed readiness to contribute to NATO "Extraction Forcè. As NATO was planning for operation to reinforce eventual agreement, Lithuania has expressed support for NATO-led peace operation "Joint Guardian" and proposed special units to participate in the eventual KFOR operation.

  On 24 March 1999, Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it regretted that attempts of the international community to settle the conflict in Kosovo by diplomatic means have failed after Federal Republic of Yugoslavia refused to sign an interim political settlement proposed by the Contact group and continued military actions in Kosovo. Lithuania has expressed its understanding of NATO action in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a means to prevent spreading of military conflict and eliminate humanitarian catastrophe in the Balkan region. As the conflict continued Lithuania repeatedly stated that it was necessary to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing carried out by FRY authorities and army against Kosovo Albanians.

  Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus in his statement in Washington DC on 22 April 1999 said:

    "Lithuania supports NATO objectives: Belgrade must halt its military activities, withdraw all its forces from Kosovo, agree with the stationing of an international peace forces in the region and allow refugees to return safely to their homes".

  The public opinion survey conducted by Lithuanian-British public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys (Gallup) on 10-11 April 1999 indicated that 52 per cent of the population in Lithuania supported NATO military action in Yugoslavia.

  Lithuania welcomed the resolution 1244 (1999) adopted by the UN Security Council on 10 June 1999 enabling deployment of international civil and security presence in Kosovo.

  Lithuania has declared its determination to practically contribute to efforts of the international community to stabilise situation in the area of Kosovo conflict and to contribute to strengthening of peace and stability in the Balkan region.

  On 29 June 1999 Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania made decision concerning the participation of Lithuanian platoon (37 persons) in the international peace-keeping operation in Kosovo. Contingent from Lithuania's Kaunas Jaeger Battalion joined Poland's 18th Air Assault Battalion which is serving with the NATO-led Kosovo Force.

  On 16 August 1999 nine Lithuanian police officers left for Kosovo to take part in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Half of them have a record of earlier participation in the UN missions in Bosnia and Hercegovina. A memorandum signed between Lithuania and the UN provides that Lithuania takes commitment to keep in stand-by readiness 20 civil police officers prepared to leave for the UN mission.

  In general, as far as Balkan region is considered, there are 137 peace-keepers from Lithuania participating in SFOR operations in Bosnia and Hercegovina, five policemen serving in the OSCE mission in Croatia and one in Bosnia and Hercegovina.

  Lithuania participates in NATO-led humanitarian operation "Allied Harbour" in Albania and Kosovo with two ambulances and 10 medical personnel who left for Albania on 28 April 1999.

  On 2 April 1999, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania allotted 1125,000 USD for humanitarian aid to the refugees from the Kosovo province. In co-ordination with UNHCR and the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Co-ordination Centre (EADRCC) the humanitarian aid—canned milk and beef—was delivered from Lithuania to UNHCR centre in Skopje.

  70 per cent of Lithuania's population supported Government's decision to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees from Kosovo.

  President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus participated at the Southeast Europe Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo on 29-30 July 1999. In his statement President Valdas Adamkus said:

    "Lithuania is part of European region, which enjoys considerable confidence and stability, where human and ethnic minorities rights are respected, and where good neighbourly relations are developed.

    We achieved this by promoting practical regional co-operation in fields of economy, environment and political dialogue with all our neighbours. Participation in the European integration process has also supported us in this endeavour.

    We can offer our experience to the interested countries in the Balkans. Lithuania is ready to contribute to the implementation of Stability Pact, in particular, in the activities of the working round table devoted to democratisation and human rights. Our experience gained in promoting sub-regional co-operation in the Baltic Sea area might also be of interest for consideration in the Balkan region".

  Following the International Kosovo Donors conference on 28 July 1999 in Brussels, Lithuania is considering its practical contribution to the Kosovo reconstruction process.

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania

September 1999


 
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