Литва

Support to the Global War on Terror

Since September 11, 2001 there were several very concrete steps taken by the Lithuanian authorities in the aftermath of the attacks.

Lithuania immediately expressed its support to the statements of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the decision to apply Article 5 of the Washington Treaty in regard to the terrorist attack against the United States.

Soon thereafter, authorization has been issued for the US Governmental and military aircraft to use the Lithuanian air space and land in the Lithuanian airports until the antiterrorist action is terminated.

Immediately after the attacks enhanced security measures have been taken to protect state's critical strategic sites (including Ignalina Nuclear Power Station, Mažeikiai Oil Refinery) and foreign Embassies.

In December 2001, Lithuania has also adopted the National Program against Terrorism and has allocated additional 7 000 000 Litas (2 000 000 USD) in 2002 years' state budget for the fight against terrorism.

Furthermore, ratification of international anti-terrorist conventions and adaptation of other relevant legal documents has been initiated. Measures have been taken to curb illegal money flows, smuggling, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Lithuanian authorities, both civil and military, have enhanced their co-operation and information exchange with their foreign counterparts. Specifically, the border control regime became tighter. Information about suspicious groups or individuals is exchanged with neighboring countries on a daily basis. The movement of goods like explosives, weapons, biological, chemical, and nuclear materials is under enhanced control in order to prevent their entry or transit through the Lithuanian territory. Additional steps have been taken against money laundering by monitoring and checking suspicious transfers. The co-operation among intelligence community and other agencies on information gathering and exchange was enhanced. All these measures are directed at creating a difficult environment for terrorists and their supporters as well as at facilitating their detention.

Speaking about the military preparations, Baltic states have extended their co-operation into joint efforts to combat terrorism. The trilateral strategy how to act together has been presented to the international community in a joint - Lithuanian-Latvian-Estonian package of antiterrorism measures.

National Crisis Management specialists were tasked to explore possibilities for creating regional crisis response mechanisms and to work out procedures among respective ministries and command structures.

Lithuania has initiated the connection of BALTNET into the NATO's integrated air surveillance and defence system in order to provide timely relevant data to the Alliance. This proposal was accepted by NATO and is in the process of being implemented.

Last but not least, Lithuania is contributing to the antiterrorist operation in Central Asia with real capabilities.

In parallel to specific military preparations and activities, Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence is actively engaged in defence diplomacy and in transfer of its experiences and know-how into other regions. At present, we are focusing our efforts on Ukraine and on the republics of South Caucasus. By now, Lithuania has already established close bilateral contacts in security and defence field with Ukraine and Georgia. In 2002 Lithuania has signed defence co-operation agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan, which should lead to increasing bilateral and multilateral contacts with these countries in the coming years.

Support to Operation Enduring Freedom

Operation	Period	Participating Force	Remarks
Operations in Afghanistan
US-led operation "Enduring Freedom"	19/ 11/ 2002 - 10/ 11/ 2003	40 military personnel	Dislocation area: Afghanistan
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) peace support mission in Afghanistan	15/ 03/ 2004 - Present	4 logistics personnel	Kabul Airport
	12/ 05/ 2003 - Present	2 medical personnel	Within German Hospital

Support to Operation Iraqi Freedom

Participation in military operation in Iraq
US-led war against Iraq	09/04/2003 - 23/06/2003	4 medical personnel	Humanitarian mission
US-led war against Iraq	09/04/2003-28/10/2003	8 logistic officers	Humanitarian mission
Participation in post-war operation in Iraq
Coalition-led military operation in Iraq	09/06/2003-26/10/2003	43 military personnel -LITCON-1	Within Danish contingent in UK-led sector
	27/10/2003-20/02/2004	54 military personnel -LITCON-2
	21/02/2004-Present	54 military personnel -LITCON-3
	03/09/2003-21/01/2004	45 military personnel - LITDET-1	Within Polish contingent in Polish-led sector
	22/01/2004-Present	54 military personnel - LITDET-2	Within Polish contingent in Polish-led sector
	04/09/2003-15/02/2004	2 military personnel	Within CJTF Staff
	16/02/2004-Present	2 military personnel	Within CJTF Staff
	03/11/2003-Present	5 military personnel	Within MND (SE) Staff
	19/01/2004-Present	5 military personnel	Within MND (CS) Staff