NATO meeting in Vilnius

Last Thursday (20Apr.2005) the ministers of foreign affairs of the NATO member states and Russia and Ukraine gathered in Vilnius for a two day unofficial meeting. It was one of the biggest international forums that ever took place in Lithuania. According to BTV, it was also the first NATO meeting taking place not in Brussels.

TV3 reported(20Apr.2005) that Condoleezza Rice was one of the most welcomed guests in Vilnius and in the airport was greeted not only by Lithuanian soldiers but also by country's young basketballers. Around 600 guests arrived to Vinius for the meeting therefore extreme security measures were required.

Head of the VIP Protection Department told LNK that this visit was extremely complex. It was the first time that so many protected people arrived to Lithuania and they all traveled in separate corteges. Nevertheless, the guests' security was assured by more than 500 extra policemen, around 200 VIP Protection Department officials, snipers on the roofs, reinforced traffic and residential area control in the city, as well as NATO fighter planes, stationed in an air base near Siauliai and ready to take off in minutes in case of alert.

According to LNK news, extra security had its benefits for Vilnius citizens as well-having almost half of Lithuania's policemen patrolling in the city signally decreased the level of crime during the days.