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Lithuania Hosts Proliferation Security Initiative Interdiction Exercise

The United States congratulates Lithuania for successfully hosting a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise on April 26-27 in Vilnius and Siauliai, Lithuania. Twenty-two nations, including the United States, participated in the Lithuania-hosted PSI exercise, Smart Raven. Smart Raven, the first PSI exercise hosted by Lithuania and the 26th PSI exercise, addressed the challenge of interdicting proliferation shipments by air.

The Lithuanian-hosted exercise advances the operational capabilities of PSI nations by allowing them to actively participate in or observe the air interdiction processes of Lithuania and its neighbors Estonia, Latvia, and Poland. Exercise Smart Raven objectives are to demonstrate the capabilities of PSI partners working cooperatively, to improve the interoperability of PSI participants, and to send a strong message regarding the commitment of responsible nations to combat proliferation.

The Proliferation Security Initiative, announced by President George W. Bush in Krakow, Poland, in May, 2003, has grown rapidly from a handful of like-minded states working to resolve a growing proliferation problem to more than 80 states from around the world.

For additional information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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