UN General Assembly
1994

my country and the region demand closer cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Lithuania has presented its formal request for membership in that organization and will continue resolutely to seek the fulfilment of this goal. Lithuania’s participation in the Partnership for Peace programme opens new avenues for Lithuanian cooperation in efforts with Europe, the United States and Canada in their endeavours to prevent conflict and maintain peace. We firmly hope that our active participation and that of other Central European States in the Partnership programme will have a positive impact on the broadening of NATO. The expansion of NATO eastward would not pose a danger or threaten any European State. Russian fears of isolation, I believe, are groundless. We welcome Russia’s joining in the Partnership for Peace and hope that its 3 participation in the programme will contribute to the strengthening of mutual trust and stability. I should like to take note of several concerns of a more global character, the burden and urgency of which are particularly felt by the countries in transition. Our