Lithuania in the News
10th January 2016
Lithuania Concludes its Two Year Term on the UN Security Council
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius chairing a session
of the UN Security Council. Next to him is the UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon. Photo courtesy urm.lt
On October 17th, 2013, Lithuania was elected nearly unanimously to a seat on the UN Security Council for the years 2014 – 2015 as one of its 10 non-permanent members. It concluded its two year term on December 31, 2015. During its term of office Lithuania took up the Presidency of the Security Council twice - for the months of February 2014 and May 2015. Australia’s membership of the Security Council overlapped that of Lithuania during 2014, which led to Lithuania and Australia working together in tackling important international problems.
Lithuania has come a long way since it first joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. Membership of UN Security Council has conferred on Lithuania considerable visibility worldwide and Lithuania has become an influential player within its region. Its Presidency of the Security Council has been well received internationally and Lithuania is now a highly regarded member of the international community, as well as a respected participant in world affairs.
An important and strategic interest to Lithuania during its term on the UN Security Council has been the conflict in Ukraine. Lithuania has initiated many meetings of the Security Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine and in the Russia-annexed Crimea. Ukraine itself has now been elected to UN Security Council for the two year term 2016 – 2017, so it is certain that the situation in Ukraine will continue to be kept in the forefront of the Security Council’s deliberations.

Further information:
1. http://www.slic.org.au/News/news_090214.htm
2. http://www.slic.org.au/News/news_070615.htm
3. http://www.urm.lt
4. http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/Lietuva/lietuva-baigia-darba-jungtiniu-tautu-saugumo-taryboje/215322