Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, currently on a working visit to Slovakia, met with Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič. The meeting focused on priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian EU presidency, prospects for bilateral cooperation, and energy security issues. READ MORE

Supporters of the reformist-backed cleric Hassan Rouhani celebrate his victory READ MORE

Taking over the EU Council Presidency, Lithuania will focus on pursing credible, growing and open Europe, country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius said at the launch event of the Official Guide to the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU together with Hill+Knowlton Strategies on 13 June. READ MORE

The strategic importance of Central Asia and its vast energy resources draw a lot of external interest to it. Russia traditionally has been the strongest outside player in in the region. But now China’s active involvement in energy sector of Central Asia is quickly increasing its influence and challenging Russia’s position in the region. In this interview Dr. Robert M. Cutler, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of European, Russian & Eurasian Studies at Carleton University discusses the issues of China-Russia competition and cooperation in the context of energy security in Central Asia. READ MORE

The visit of the Secretary of State Grigoriy Karasin, Vice Minister of the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation to Tashkent became the continuation of the dialogue, started in Moscow this April by the Presidents Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin. Then they signed a large set of documents on various spheres of cooperation – from economy to special services cooperation, up to 2017. Security and development of the total Central Asia region depends on its accomplishment. READ MORE

As both Norway and Russia race to extract potentially vast amounts of energy from the Barents Sea, a small Norwegian town in the high Arctic could become the hub for a new era of oil and gas exploration. READ MORE

Lithuanian foreign affairs vice-minister Vytautas Leškevičius, while presenting the principal goals of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union (EU) Council in the Conference of Committee Chairs of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, stressed the importance of the cooperation of the EU institutions. READ MORE

NATO Defence Ministers on Wednesday (5 June 2013) endorsed the detailed concept for the new NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces after 2014. “That concept will guide our military experts as they finalise the plan in the course of the coming months,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. READ MORE

The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, attended the 12th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit ''The Shangri-La Dialogue 2013'' in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. READ MORE

All countries should give high priority to the development of renewable energy sources (RES) and their effective use.  Alternative energy is one of the ways to establish new jobs, develop „green“ economy and reduce  greenhouse gas emissions. Lithuania should also focus on the development of RES and increase energy independence since it is still highly dependent on Russia. Effective use of RES could increase reliable energy supplies and comply with the environmental requirements of the EU.  READ MORE