Vilnius- Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus played host to US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Thursday in Vilnius, and was told Lithuanians will be able to travel to the US from November 17 without a visa.

Chertoff has spent the last few days touring the region delivering similar official confirmation to other states including Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

"This is an important day for Lithuanian and American people as we open new possibilities for bilateral cooperation. I would like to thank President George Bush, the US Administration and all those who worked hard to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles," Adamkus said.

"I am confident that Lithuanian people will honour the trust placed in them and will keep to the laws and order of your country," he added.

Adamkus and Chertoff also discussed the situation in Georgia, with the Lithuanian president expressing disappointment with what he called Russia's failure to implement the key points of the Medvedev and Sarkozy plan, including granting free movement to EU observers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia will be back on Adamkus' agenda Friday when he welcomes President Mikheil Saakashvili to the Lithuanian capital for a one-day visit. (dpa)