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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