Baltic leaders to meet with Obama at end of August

Photo: Džoja Gunda Barysaitė (Leedu Presidendi Kantselei)

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will take part in a meeting of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian heads of state with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Aug. 30.

The meeting in the White House will focus on security-related and economic cooperation between the United States and Europe, NATO transformation, cyber and energy security, as well as the promotion of human rights and democratic values throughout the world, the Estonian president's office said.

"Mutual consultations and an open conversation between good friends on issues that are important to all of us play a material role in strengthening the alliance between the Baltic region and the United States that forms an inseparable part of transatlantic cooperation in general," Ilves said.

"This joint meeting will highlight the significant transformations the Baltic states have undergone since restoring their independence two decades ago," the US embassy in Vilnius said in a statement.

"Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are valued NATO allies, and the four leaders will discuss a broad range of mutual interests, including regional cooperation on shared challenges, energy security, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations, defense, and cyber cooperation. The Presidents will also discuss joint efforts to advance human rights and democratic values, including development assistance for emerging democracies around the world," the embassy said.

According to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite "the United States understands the challenges faced by Lithuania and the other Baltic countries and cooperation with the United States over the past few years has been more intense than ever before."

This year marks 15 years since the signing of the U.S.- Baltic Charter of Partnership.