Lithuanian President: Lithuania Won't Take Part in Iraq War - 27 March, 2003

Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas stated that his country would not take part in the Iraq war.

The president said on the national radio on Thursday that Lithuania would send military experts to the region to carry out humanitarian mission to eliminate the consequences of war.

The president voiced his support for peaceful solutions to international conflicts, adding that diplomatic measures were sometimes insufficient to resolve them, as it happened in Iraq.

Paksas said he strongly opposed Lithuania's support for Europe and the USA in their anti-Iraqi campaign. He believes that peace can be maintained only by United Europe and through strong transatlantic relations.

The president referred to his country's admission to the EU and NATO as Lithuania's priority.