Press Releases

The U.S. is Lithuania’s partner to attain energy independence

Friday, July 1, Vilnius - President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Unites States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, currently visiting Vilnius at her invitation, to discuss energy and regional security issues, Lithuanian-U.S. cooperation priorities, and prospects of democratic development in the neighboring countries.

According to the President, new energy security related challenges are defining new guidelines for cooperation with the United States. The search for alternative energy sources and their supply routes as well as the development of safe nuclear energy in the European Union and outside its boundaries are matters of common interest for Lithuania and the United States.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Lithuania on the passage yesterday by the Seimas of the amendments to the law on natural gas. The amendments, implementing the Third EU Energy Package, would serve as a guarantee of Lithuania's and the region's energy security.

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured that the United States well understands and actively supports Lithuania's efforts to ensure its energy independence. I am very pleased that we are cooperating on the new Visaginas nuclear power plant project, with two US companies participating in the process, as well as with respect to using shale natural gas and building a LNG terminal," the President said.

The U.S. Secretary of State also expressed support to Lithuania's stand that nuclear power plants proposed to be built in its neighborhood should meet the highest international safety and environmental standards, while the nuclear power plant planned for construction by Belarus in Astravets, close to Vilnius, should be relocated further from the Lithuanian border.

Among the other issues discussed at the meeting were the ongoing processes in neighboring Eastern countries. The President pointed out that only independent and democratic countries could ensure a secure neighborhood and safe nuclear energy development; therefore it was important to seek more openness: to make it easier for people to cross borders, to open universities, to promote business consultations.

According to the President, the United States has always been Lithuania's most important partner and ally in regional security. Cooperation between the two countries in NATO, the President said, is already producing results: we have real contingency plans for the Baltics, preparations are underway to ensure cyber and energy security, Lithuania's Energy Security Center is evolving into a NATO center of excellence, Lithuanian servicemen are participating in the most difficult NATO missions.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also touched on the contribution made by Lithuanian Americans to the development of economic and cultural contacts as well as bilateral relations. There are between 700000 and one million people of Lithuanian origin living in the United States, including 40600 Lithuanian citizens. The strong and numerous Lithuanian American community, the President said, contributed in a major way to strengthening US-Lithuanian economic, cultural and scientific ties.

According to the President, American investments in Lithuania are very important, but just as important is cooperation in innovations and the development of Lithuanian business in the United States, especially in the Silicon Valley.