Other events in Baltic States

The first ever U.S.-Baltic joint military exercises will take place next September or October in Latvia, U.S. Army Forces in Europe Commander General Carter F. Ham said during a visit to the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius yesterday.

The United States plans to send two two companies and instructors for these military exercises, a representative from the Lithuanian Defense Ministry told the ELTA/LETA news agency. Furthermore, such exercises will be organized each year in one of the Baltic States.

General Ham also promised that, in the future, ''ways to strengthen cooperation in the preparation of soldiers will be found.''