Baltic Chiefs of Defence two-day meeting in Birstonas was closed, April 25. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were represented by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Valdas Tutkus, Latvian Armed Forces Commander Gen. Maj. Juris Maklakovs, and Estonian Armed Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots respectively.

kariuomenės vadas generolas leitenantas Valdas Tutkus. “This was a conclusive meeting on what structure and command of BALTBAT should be in 2010. Now we are only left with putting into practise some of the procurement projects and arranging battalion exercises already planned,” Armed Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Valdas Tutkus said.

Chiefs of Defence upheld the activity plan of the Baltic Defence College as well as proposals on syllabus improvement and the chance to organise courses for separate military specialities.

“This institution will remain the main place where both Lithuanian and foreign higher officers can acquire military education,” said V.Tutkus. “We really welcome the College Commandant’s position regarding international personnel. We fully agree to the idea that College instructors as well as students should come from all the NATO members and partners.”

At the moment students from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans undergo education in the College. Staff of the Baltic Defence College consists of well-experienced instructors from Denmark, the UK, US, Canada, Poland, Norway, France, Romania, Finland, Sweden, and Germany.

Chiefs of Defence also approved plan of activity and new commander of the joint Baltic squadron BALTRON. From July 2008 command of the squadron will be passed to Lithuanian Naval Force Commander Eugenijus Valikovas.

The Generals also looked at other projects of trilateral cooperation. Agreement was made to exchange information on long-term plans of armed forces-related procurements, and to invite national forces of neighbouring countries to join procurement projects. Budget for the Baltic airspace control project BALTNET for 2009 was also approved. Chiefs of Defence agreed to the need to commit commanders of air forces to continue looking for possible ways of continuing the Baltic Air-policing mission after 2018.