LITHUANIA: LITHUANIANS GATHER FOR AN UNUSUAL FESTIVAL TO SUPPORT THEIR COUNTRY'S FUTURE NATO MEMBERSHIP

Record ID: 639832

  • Title: LITHUANIA: LITHUANIANS GATHER FOR AN UNUSUAL FESTIVAL TO SUPPORT THEIR COUNTRY'S FUTURE NATO MEMBERSHIP
  • Date: 18th May 1997
  • Summary: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA, MAY 18, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/CU DECORATED STAGE, SYMBOL OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO) ON THE STAGE (2 SHOTS) 0.05 2. MCU PEOPLE AT THE FESTIVAL WATCHING THE SKY 0.07 3. SLV SOLDIER LANDS WITH PARACHUTE 0.19 4. SLV/LV OF COMMANDOS EXERCISING/ LIGHTING TORCHES (6 SHOTS) 0.49 5. SV/LV LITHUANIAN SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS LISTENING TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (4 SHOTS) 1.02 6. LV LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER VITAUTAS LANDSBERGIS ADDRESSING THE FESTIVAL (2 SHOTS) 1.14 7. SV OF CHILDREN PLAYING WITH WEAPONS (3 SHOTS) 1.29 8. SLV/SV OF MILITARY SHOWS WITH PLANES, HELICOPTERS, TANKS (4 SHOTS) 1.52 9. SLV SOLDIERS MARCH OFF FOLLOWED BY GROUP OF YOUNG CHILDREN 2.03 Initials P3 S3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
  • City:
  • Country: EUROPE Lithuania
  • Reuters ID: LVA5NN1DHTWGWXSGAWOTBFT7T5GW
  • Story Text: More than 5,000 young Lithuanians have gathered for an unusual festival to support their country's future NATO membership.

    The Lithuanian parliament and the Defence Ministry chose the picturesque outskirts of the capital Vilnius as the venue for the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) festival on Sunday (May 18) The show's centrepiece was a combat exercise staged by Lithuanian commandos.

    In his opening speech, parliamentary speaker Vitautas Landsbergis said Lithuania's entry into NATO would not endanger Russia's position in Europe and would increase European security in general.

    The festival is part of a public campaign in support of the country's membership in NATO. A lot of children attended the show and, remarkably, were allowed to handle and play with the weapons.

    According to recent polls, more than 80 per cent of the population supports NATO's proposal to expand eastward.

    Russia, Lithuanian's eastern neigbour, strongly opposes NATO's plans to admit former Soviet-bloc countries in eastern Europe.

    But Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed to sign a deal with the Alliance which will give it a say in the alliance's decisions.

    It also provides assurances the West will not move nuclear and other weapons closer to Russia's borders.


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