„We ourselves will come to Lazdijai on Friday and talk, answer questions, and provide specific answers and specific solutions,“ Kaunas told journalists.
„I fully understand people's concerns, and I fully understand the questions that are being raised. They are logical, and they will require logical answers. We have those answers,“ he emphasised.
Concerned about the planned military training ground, the Kapčiamiestis community appealed to state institutions on Tuesday, requesting psychological services and emotional support.
The appeal, prepared on Tuesday, was addressed to the Ministries of Health and National Defence, the Seimas, and the Lazdijai District Municipality.
As announced, the State Defence Council (VGT) has decided to establish a brigade-sized training ground in Kapčiamiestis, Lazdijai Municipality.
In addition, it was decided to double the training ground's area in Tauragė by expanding it into the Jurbarkas municipality.
Presidential advisor Deividas Matulionis emphasised that municipalities will also benefit from the establishment of training grounds.
However, the residents of the Kapčiamestis eldership disagree with the VGT's decision.
Minister: Law on new training ground in Lazdijai to reach Seimas in spring
Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas says he plans to submit the law on the new training ground in the Lazdijai district to the Seimas during the upcoming spring session.
„The procedures are only possible after the Seimas' decision – we are currently holding discussions, we do not even have obvious points on where the training ground would be located, at this stage it is only a project,“ Kaunas told journalists on Wednesday.
„Decisions may be made during the spring session (...) the goal is to submit the bill in the spring (ELTA), because we hear and see the army's needs, we discuss them with the community and answer questions,“ he assured.
According to Kaunas, approximately EUR 40 million is planned to be allocated to the purchase of land and farmsteads located on the territory of the future training ground in Kapčiamiestis, Lazdijai district, which could be distributed among 90 farmsteads.
„Since we are finding solutions, not everyone may be able to decide whether they want to sell or not, so this amount may change, as may the need for funds,“ said the minister.
According to Kaunas, the new shooting range will be built in accordance with environmental protection goals – only about 10–15% of the total planned forest area will be cut down.
„I want to dispel the myth that the entire forest will be cut down – that is definitely not the case. (...) The main felling will take place in the shooting range area, without affecting any nature reserves or protected areas. Everything is being coordinated with the Ministry of the Environment,“ he explained.
Both President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said they would not rule out visiting the municipality and speaking with concerned residents.
ELTA recalls that in October, the Ministry of National Defence and the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (LSA) signed a cooperation agreement on a package of benefits for municipalities whose territory already has, or will have in the future, military training grounds.
The brigade-sized training ground is to be established in response to the army's modernisation, the growing number of conscripts, the development of a national division, and the increasing number of allied forces. The need for a new training ground was mentioned in early March by Army Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras, who said that southern Lithuania would be the most suitable location.