LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ON LITHUANIAN ARMY UNITS PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EXERCISES, OTHERS INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CO-OPERATION EVENTS

LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ON LITHUANIAN ARMY UNITS PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EXERCISES, OTHERS INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CO-OPERATION EVENTS OR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND ON ARRANGING INTERNATIONAL EXERCISES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CO Official Translation REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS, MILITARY EXERCISES AND OTHER EVENTS June 10 1997, No. I-555 (as amended by July 17, 2000. No. VIII - 1860) Vilnius Article 1. Purpose of the Law and Principal Definitions 1. This Law shall regulate participation of Lithuanian Army units in international exercises, and other international military co-operation events and also, in international operations abroad as well as participation of foreign states military units in international exercises and other international military co-operation events conducted on the territory of Lithuania. 2. The principal definitions of the present Law are as follows: 1) International operation means a peace support operation implemented on the territory of another state with participation of Lithuanian Army units assigned by the State of Lithuania with the purpose of implementation of its international commitments; 2) International exercises means preparation exercises and training for international peace support operations, other type of international exercises and training in accordance with the Lithuanian National Defence System’s combat preparedness or international military co-operation plans and programmes; 3) other type international military co-operation events (hereinafter referred to as “an international event”) that are included into military co-operation plans and programmes but that are not ascribed to an international operation, or international exercises as well as events agreed upon between the appropriate institutions of Lithuania and foreign states; 4) Military unit means each Lithuanian or another state’s military unit of any size, commanded by a single commander and having a common task to participate in International exercises and other international events and international operations. Article 2. Legal Basis for Participation of Lithuanian Army Units in International Operations Lithuanian Army units may take part in international operations, only when international commitments of the Republic of Lithuania are being implemented and when the Seimas shall take a decision to send a Lithuanian Army Unit to take part in an international operation. Article 3. Formation of Lithuanian Army Units Designated for Participation in International Operations 1. In accordance with an international agreement of the Republic of Lithuania joint Lithuanian and other states’ military units, excluding those defined in Article 13 of this Law, may be formed for participation in international operations. 2. The procedure of forming, funding and training for international operations of Lithuanian Army units assigned to participate in international operations shall be defined by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and (

1. or)by an international agreement of the Republic of Lithuania on the formation of joint Lithuanian and another state’s (states’) military units for participation in international operations. 3. Professional service or active reserve servicemen and persons belonging to individual mobilisation reserve shall be accepted to an international operation military unit on a voluntary basis. An agreement on professional military service and on service in international operations military units shall be signed with the accepted servicemen. The initial obligatory military service servicemen with a sufficient degree of training may also be accepted following the conclusion of an agreement on service in international operations military units and an agreement on professional military service upon completion of the initial obligatory military service. 4. The Republic of Lithuania Government shall define terms and conditions related to Lithuanian servicemen’s service in international operations military units. Article 4. Participation forms of Lithuanian Army Units in International Operations and Military Structures of International Organisations 1. Lithuanian Army units may be transferred to the operational command of the UN Security Council’s structures for implementation of certain international operations in accordance with the UN Charter. 2. Joint military units with WEU or NATO may be established or Lithuanian Army units may be transferred to the operational command of organisations or structures thereof. 3. Lithuanian Army units may take part in international rescue and humanitarian operations. Article 5. Size of Lithuanian Army Units Participating in International Operations and Number of Lithuanian Army Servicemen Serving in Joint Military U nits 1. In each case, the size of Lithuanian Army units to be sent for participation in international operations shall be decided by the Seimas on the recommendation of the Government. 2. When establishing a joint Lithuanian and another state’s, NATO or WEU military unit, the number of Lithuanian Army servicemen shall be defined by an international agreement on establishment of a joint military unit. Article 6. Arrangement of International Exercises, Organising of Other International Events and Participation Therein When implementing international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania, also, international military co-operation plans or programmes and being in conformance with the limitations set forth by Article 13 of this Law, the following shall be observed: 1) Joint exercises with participation of Lithuanian Army and foreign states’ military units or military units of international organisations defined by this Law, as well as other type international events, may be arranged on the territory of Lithuania; 2) Lithuanian military units may participate in international exercises and other type international events on other states’ territories. Article 7. Decision on Use of Lithuanian Army Units in International Operations 1. Following the decision by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Army units may be transferred to the operational command of the UN Security Council and other international organisations, defined by Article 4, paragraph 2 of this Law, to implement international operations on a defined territory for a period of time stated by the decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall submit the draft decision. 2. In the event of violation of terms and conditions defined for transfer of Lithuanian Army units, also, in cases, when it is necessary to ensure interests of the Lithuanian State, such units may be recalled at any time by the decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 3. In urgent cases, taking into account a recommendation by the State Defence Council, the President of the Republic shall take a decision on the use of Lithuanian Army units in international rescue and humanitarian operations and shall submit such a decision for approval to the nearest sitting of the Seimas. Article 8. Taking Decision to Arrange Joint Exercises or to Organise Other Type International Events, as well as a Decision to Send Lithuanian Army Units to Participate Therein 1. A decision to send Lithuanian Army units, whose total number of servicemen exceeds 800, to participate in joint exercises with other foreign states’ military units or to participate in other type international events, as well as to give a permission for arrival of other states’ military units, whose total number at one time exceeds 1600, to participate in exercises or other type international events on the territory of Lithuania shall be taken by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 2. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall take decisions to arrange international exercises or to organise other type international events on the territory of Lithuania and, for that purpose, to permit arrival of other states’ military units in the territory of Lithuania, as well as decisions to send Lithuanian Army units to participate, for a defined period of time, in international exercises or other type international events on another state’s territory, excluding cases defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article. In accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, when taking such a decision, the Government shall define the largest number of other states’ servicemen permitted to arrive or the largest number of Lithuanian servicemen to be sent abroad. 3. Decisions to arrange in Lithuania exercises or training of a joint Lithuanian and other states’ military unit, as well as to organise other type international events, and to permit, for that purpose, servicemen of this unit from other states to arrive in the territory of Lithuania for a defined period of time, as well as decisions to send Lithuanian Army servicemen of a joint unit to participate in exercises, training or other type international events, for a defined period of time, in a foreign state shall be taken by the Minister of National Defence. 4.Decisions to arrange international exercises on the territory of Lithuania with participation of other states’ military units, as well as to organise other type international events, and, for that purpose, to permit arrival in the territory of Lithuania, for a defined period of time, of a foreign state’s (states’) military units, as well as decisions to send to international exercises or other type international events outside Lithuania, for a defined period of time, Lithuanian military units, whose total number does not exceed 150 servicemen, shall be taken by the Minister of National Defence, who will ground an issue of his/her order by international co-operation agreements, plans or programmes. 5. In cases defined by paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article, the Minister of National Defence, following his/her decision on arranging international exercises or organising other type international events in Lithuania, as well as on sending a Lithuanian Army unit to international exercises or other type international events abroad, shall provide the Government, Foreign and Interior Ministries and the Customs Department with a copy of his/her order. 6. Following decisions defined by paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the exact number of foreign states’ servicemen arriving in Lithuania to participate in joint exercises and other type international events or the number of Lithuanian servicemen sent abroad to joint exercises or other type international events, as well as terms and conditions and the procedure of foreign military units’ arrival, acceptance and participation in the exercises and other type international events or terms and conditions of sending abroad Lithuanian military units shall be defined by an order of the Minister’s of National Defence. 7. When sending a Lithuanian Army unit abroad in accordance with the procedure defined by the Minister of National Defence, the Armed Forces’ Commander shall issue a movement or travel order approving the list of taken out armament, ammunition and equipment. On the basis of this order a Lithuanian Army unit shall carry the property defined in the list across the state border of Lithuania, and its bringing back to the territory of Lithuania shall require no declaration. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall approve a special border crossing procedure. Article 9. Movement of Foreign States’ Military Units Across the Lithuanian State Border and Use of Lithuanian Roadways and Airfields 1. Following the submission of documents by the National Defence Ministry, related to permission of other states’ military units arrival in the territory of Lithuania for participation in exercises or other type international events, the State Border Control institutions shall apply a special Border crossing procedure, i.e. shall exempt them from the passport and visa control and shall not apply regulations related to foreigners’ registration. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall approve a special border crossing procedure. 2. Upon the State Border Control officials’ request, members of other states’ military units must provide a movement or travel order to be issued in the language of their mother tongue, as well as in the English (French) language, by an appropriate institution of a sending state or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The status of the military unit members, the right to have and carry weapons, transportation of military technical equipment and armament, as well as their movement direction shall be defined by the said order. 3. Foreign states’ military units that, subject to the procedure defined by the present Law, are permitted to arrive in the territory of Lithuania for participation in exercises or other type international events shall have the right to bring into the territory of Lithuania their armament, military technical equipment and ammunition without declaring or paying taxes. 4. Ammunition, foodstuffs or any other supplies (including the goods which are an object of excise tax) shall be allowed to be brought by foreign states’ military units, without declaring and paying taxes shall be limited to the quantity necessary to support their military and attending personnel. 5. Other states’ military units that have arrived in the territory of Lithuania for participation in the international exercise or other type international events shall use their own vehicles without paying any taxes for the use of Lithuanian roadways, national airfields and seaports. 6.Upon crossing the Lithuanian State border by foreign states’ military units all problematic issues encountered by the officials of the State Border Control institutions shall be resolved by representatives authorised by the Minister of National Defence. Article 10. Transit of Foreign Military Units Across Territory of Lithuania to Exercises or Other Type International Events in Third State 1. Those military units of a foreign state, whose military unit may be permitted, subject to the present Law, to arrive in the territory of Lithuania for participation in the international exercise or other type international events, may also be allowed to move across the territory of the Republic of Lithuania to international training, exercises or other type international events in the third state. In these cases, the same decision making and other conditions related to the arrival in the territory of Lithuania defined by the present Law shall apply. The consent of the neighbouring state that the military unit is moving into must be also attached. 2. In urgent cases, permission for another state’s military unit’s transit across the territory of Lithuania to international training, exercise or other type international events in the third state may be requested through diplomatic channels. In such cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the National Defence Minister’s consent, shall issue the permission on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. 3. A foreign state’s military unit moving across the territory of Lithuania shall be accompanied by an assigned military protection escort while the route and terms and conditions of movement shall be co-ordinated with the Lithuanian Traffic Police. Article 11. Legal Status, Social Guarantees and Responsibility of Servicemen Serving in Military Units Assigned to Implement International Operations or in Other International Events Held in Other State’s Territory 1. The legal status during, the period of their service in the territory of another state for servicemen serving in foreign state military units or civilian employees thereof, serving on the basis of this Law and (
2. or)international agreements and (
3. or)understandings, on the territory of Lithuania and also, servicemen of Lithuanian Army units or civilian employees thereof, who serve abroad on the basis of this Law and (
4. or)international agreements and (
5. or)understandings, shall be established by international agreements and understandings based upon them. 2. Social guarantees for Lithuanian Army servicemen, serving in military units for international operations, shall apply in accordance with Republic of Lithuania laws. 3. In the event the agreement of a Lithuanian Army serviceman, regarding his service in international operations military units, shall be terminated, due to the fault of the serviceman, he must compensate the costs of the national defence system related to his training and preparation for international operations. Article 12. Individual and Collective Self-defence No provision of this Law, in any way shall restrict the right of the Republic of Lithuania to carry out individual or collective self-defence in accordance with the United Nations’ Charter. Article 13. Prohibition to Participate in International Operations and Exercises of any Post-soviet Unions (Associations) 1 Any participation of CIS members’ armed force units or any other type of military structures in international exercises and other type international events or international operations on the territory of Lithuania shall be prohibited. Similarly, shall be prohibited any participation of Lithuanian Army units and any other structures of the National Defence System in international exercises and other type international events or international operations on the territory of CIS. 2. Prohibitions defined by this Article shall not be applied to military officials who have been invited by the Host State to participate in the exercises or other type international events in the role of observers. I hereby promulgate this Law passed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC VALDAS ADAMKUS