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In August last year, VGT decided to prepare a Civil Protection Emergency Management Concept and its implementation plans, but so far, according to D. Kuliešius, the Ministry of the Interior and the Government have not done so.
“It was stated that the current situation in which Lithuania lives, the period of a pandemic, is a crisis of great magnitude. The civil protection system is in place, emergency management is not effective enough and needs to be improved.
The decisions of the previous VGT ruling have not been fully implemented. It is the concept and its implementation plan for a better integration of the current two-level emergency management that has not been developed, ”commented the Chief Advisor to the President at the end of the VGT meeting.
The decisions of the previous VGT ruling have not been fully implemented.
Proposes the establishment of a Crisis Management Center
According to him, so far only the draft Civil Protection Law has been drawn up, which does not systematically address the issue of emergency management.
Coordinated crisis management at the national level, according to D. Kuliešius, is necessary to manage the same COVID-19 pandemic, as well as risks related to the Astrava nuclear power plant, climate change or hybrid threats.
“Today, in the VGT format, it was decided that the concept should be developed before the next VGT meeting. Legislation will continue to be needed to implement that concept. This should be adopted in the spring session,” said D. Kuliešius.
Photo by Luke April / 15 minutes / Darius Kuliešius
According to him, there is a lack of leadership in crisis management and emergency management, and self-government and the national level do not function in a focused way, so it would be worth establishing a National Crisis Management Center.
“Today, there is a lack of leadership in crisis, emergency management, if it is a serious crisis and an emergency, the two existing levels of self-government and the national level are not sufficiently integrated to make effective, quick and timely decisions. Therefore, a National Crisis Management Center is needed.
This could be a solution that would help and monitor all possible crisis and emergency risks, as well as prepare for them, so that the preparedness of all states, all municipalities, was at the required quality level. The element of management is also very important ”, taught D. Kuliešius.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the Seimas Defense and National Security Committee, also participated in the VGT meeting. According to him, it is difficult to talk about what the concept of crisis management will be. Its creation, according to the politician, should be the responsibility of the Government, and the Crisis Management Center that is being created should be directly subordinate to the Prime Minister.
“The government program foresees the establishment of an Emergency and Crisis Management Center, which, in my opinion, should report directly to the Prime Minister, and that this center should guarantee a certain level of centralization with some participation from other institutions. <...>to involve all institutions ”, he said.
The desire to respond quickly remains
The issues related to the 2015 Armed Defense Concept were approved by the Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas, who participated in the VGT meeting.
According to him, by updating the concept, Lithuania’s desire to be able to respond quickly to military threats will not change.
Lithuania must remain as prepared as possible for a rapid response to military threats.
“Now, taking into account the trends in the security environment, the decisions made by both the allies and Lithuania, it can be said that according to the new concept being prepared, Lithuania must remain fully prepared for a rapid response. to military threats, both independently and together with the allies, “said the minister and assured that the focus on defense would not decrease and that defense funding would increase steadily.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Arvydas Anušauskas
Since the adoption of the defense concept, the security situation in the region has changed, with Russia strengthening its military capabilities.
“The security situation in our region has changed in such a way that Russia has increased its capabilities, we cannot hide it from the public. Not only new individual units are being developed, but also military units, [vyksta] military exercises that focus on the attack.
There are many indications that Russia has not changed its position, which was six years ago, so that we can review both our position and our concept, ”commented the Minister of National Defense.
Capacities were strengthened not only by Russia but also by Lithuania
But, according to him, Lithuania’s capabilities also changed: military equipment improved, capabilities of the motorized infantry brigade “Žemaitija” were developed, and the Allies provided special assistance to infrastructure.
Photo by Alfredas Pliadis / Oath of the “Žemaitija” Motorized Infantry Brigade
“We just realized that there was a great qualitative leap in those years. <...> I believe that during those five years not only new organizational structures appeared in the army, but also with the development of air defense and ground combat capabilities, the number of army personnel in general increased during that period, ”said A. Anušauskas .
we fill
Remote press conference:
VIDEO: Comments after the VGT meeting: not only Russia but also Lithuania has strengthened its military power
VGT discusses and coordinates the most important issues of state defense, including the activities of state institutions on the most important issues of guaranteeing and defending the security of the state.
The Council is made up of the President, the Prime Minister, the President of the Seimas, the Minister of National Defense and the Commander of the Armed Forces.
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