On 29-30 May, the Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană visited Vilnius, Lithuania, to attend the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, also meeting with its President the Honourable Gerald E. Connolly, as well as other parliamentarians and senior officials. During his visit he also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Mr Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Speaker of the Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament, Ms Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, representatives of the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the Speakers of the Finnish and Swedish Parliaments, Mr Matti Vanhanen and Mr Andreas Norlén.
Photo by NATO PA
Mr. Geoană thanked the Lithuanian hosts of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and welcomed the attendance of the Chair of the Ukrainian Rada and the Speakers of the Finnish and Swedish Parliaments.
The Deputy Secretary General noted how parliamentarians in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly have “a key role in encouraging strategic patience, public support for the long haul, and unity amongst our ranks” in the face of the Ukraine war.
Mr. Geoană spoke of how in the three months since the start of the war in Ukraine “we have significantly stepped up our support for Ukraine.” He said that “We must be prepared to stay the course and sustain our efforts applying maximum pressure on President Putin to end this war and to do all we can to support Ukraine for the long haul”.
In closing his remarks at the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Geoană told participants that he continues to count on them, “as the voice of our one billion people. As the guardians of our democratic values” to maintain the unity, solidarity, and strength of NATO.