LITHUANIA: UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE ARRIVES ON OFFICIAL VISIT
Record ID:
222809
LITHUANIA: UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE ARRIVES ON OFFICIAL VISIT
- Title: LITHUANIA: UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE ARRIVES ON OFFICIAL VISIT
- Date: 22nd April 2005
- Summary: (BN12) VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (APRIL 20, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV U.S. PLANE ON TARMAC; SLV LITHUANIAN OFFICIALS WAITING 0.08 2. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WALKING DOWN PLANE STEPS; RICE GREETED BY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION OF THE LITHUANIAN-AFGHANISTAN PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM 0.24 3. MV RICE SHAKING HANDS WITH BASKETBALL TEAM; RICE RECEIVING A SHIRT FROM BASKETBALL TEAM; RICE GETTING INTO CAR; SLV CAR DRIVING AWAY 0.55 (W4) VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (APRIL 20, 2005) (REUTERS) 4. SLV EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE; SCU PRESIDENTIAL SIGN 1.01 5. MV U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT VALDAS ADEMKUS WALKING INTO ROOM AND SHAKING HANDS; SCU PLATE COMMEMORATING VISIT BY U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH; MV RICE AND ADEMKUS SITTING AT TABLE; U.S. AND LITHUANIAN FLAGS ON TABLE; SCU PRESIDENTIAL SIGN 1.29 6. RICE AND ADEMKUS WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE 1.41 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE SAYING: "In a meeting now in NATO you can see a kind of energy and commitment to democracy, that frankly those of us that have been fortunate enough to have had that freedom for a long time tend to take it for granted, places like Lithuania don't. You have given new energy and inspiration to the (NATO) alliance and I am sure that, that is also true for the European Union." 8. CLOSE UP ON HANDS TAKING NOTES 9. (SOUNDBITE)(English) RICE SAYING: "If the Gaza disengagement is successful we will have substantially improved the confidence of the two parties in each other. We will be able to accelerate progress on the 'road map' (to peace). So that is what we will talk about tonight. We will talk about how to make that a reality. NATO is an important forum for a trans-Atlantic dialogue on political issues. It is the premier form." 10. PRESS ROOM 11. (SOUNDBITE)(English) RICE SAYING OF POSSIBLE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS JOHN BOLTON: "We understand fully the role of the senate and it advising consent, we have tried to be responsive and answer any questions that may have risen and we will continue to be responsive but I hope this is something we can get done soon, because John Bolton is a committed and capable diplomat." 12. DIPLOMATS LISTENING 2.59 (W4) VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (APRIL 20, 2005) (REUTERS) 13. MV ICELAND'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DAVID ODDSSON, WALKING INTO RECEPTION ROOM AT THE CHODKEVICIAL PALACE 14. MV NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER TALKING TO MINISTERS 3.16 14. MV U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WALKING INTO RECEPTION ROOM; MV RICE SHAKING HANDS WITH DENMARK'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PER STIG MOLLER; WIDE OF DINNING HALL; CLOSE UP PLATE WITH SALMON DISH; MV RICE SITTING DOWN AT DINNER TABLE (5 SHOTS) 3.44 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 7th May 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
- Country: Lithuania
- Reuters ID: LVA5NJ56BE988EAJ0PWK834ZSR4P
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits
Lithuania.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew from
Moscow to Lithuania on Wednesday (April 20, 2005) and met newly
elected President Valdas Ademkus.
Before joining a two-day meeting of NATO foreign
ministers, Rice held talks with Ademkus followed by a joint
news conference.
Lithuania only joined the alliance last year and Rice
spoke about the energy and commitment brought into NATO by
the country and other new members.
"In a meeting now in NATO you can see a kind of energy
and commitment to democracy, that frankly those of us that
have been fortunate enough to have had that freedom for a
long time tend to take it for granted, places like
Lithuania don't. You have given new energy and inspiration
to the (NATO) alliance and I am sure that, that is also
true for the European Union."
She also said the NATO ministers would discuss the
so-called road map to Middle East peace during their
meeting.
"If the Gaza disengagement is successful we will have
substantially improved the confidence of the two parties in
each other. We will be able to accelerate progress on the
'road map' (to peace). So that is what we will talk about
tonight. We will talk about how to make that a reality.
NATO is an important forum for a trans-Atlantic dialogue on
political issues. It is the premier form."
Finally, she answered questions on the controversial
nomination of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations. Rice called Bolton is a "committed and capable
diplomat."
"We understand fully the role of the senate and it
advising consent, we have tried to be responsive and answer
any questions that may have risen and we will continue to
be responsive but I hope this is something we can get done
soon, because John Bolton is a committed and capable
diplomat."
Later in the evening, NATO ministers gathered at the
old Chodekevicial Palace in the center of Vilnius for an
informal dinner ahead of tomorrow's NATO ministers meeting.
The ministers are expected to discuss NATO's role in
central Europe, the future of Afghanistan, NATO's training
assistance to Iraq, the future of Kosovo and the political
situation in the broader Middle East.
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