* Photo: Valdas Kopūstas (ELTA)

Brussels, Jan 27 (ELTA) - During the closed session of the EU Committee on Legal Affairs, MEP Vikto-ras Uspaskich’s parliamentary immunity will be decided upon.During the closed session, Viktoras Uspaskich will have an opportunity to state his position.

Afterwards, the Committee on Legal Affairs will adopt a decision on the basis of which the EP Committee might propose to approve of the request of Lithuanian prosecutor’s office to waive Uspaskich’s legal immunity or on the contrary, to defend it.

The position of the committee is very important. The cases when MEPs do not approve of EP to decide upon Uspaskich’s immunity the committee’s decisions are exceptional.Viktoras Uspaskich is one of the accused in the criminal proceedings for fraudulent accountancy of the Labour Party.

According to Prosecutor at the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption at the Prosecutor’s General Office Saulius Verseckas, further proceedings will only be possible if the EP gives its consent for bringing Viktoras Uspaskich to justice and lifting his legal immunity.

Uspaskich himself sent letters to the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Bruzek, Head of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) (Guy Verhofstadt) and Chairman of the EP Legal Affairs committee Klaus-Heneir Lehne, complaining he has become a victim of political violence and comparing his case to that of former Yukos Head Michail Chodorkovskis, who was sentenced to eight years because of tax evasion.

Strasbourg, Jan 29 (ELTA) - On April 28, the Strasbourg-based Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights will start hearing the action lodged by MEP Rolandas Paksas, the impeached head of state, over the alleged conspiracy of political groups against him as president in 2003-2004.

According to Paksas, he was deprived of his right to a defence, and an impartial and fair trial.“The case is open after six years since I brought the action. It is started to be heard in the face of new circumstances which again prove that there has been a conspiracy aimed to remove the president who created problems for clans - the president, who strictly prohibited the establishment of torture chambers of a foreign country in Lithuania.

“I am convinced that justice will win as this case is not against Lithuania, but against the politicized clans and the system which organized the conspiracy under the name of Lithuania,” Paksas said.In the case at the European Court of Human Rights the defendant will be the Lithuanian Government, which has its own representative to the court.

Vilnius, Jan 20 (ELTA) - Foreign Minister Vygaudas Ušackas decided to step down after the president expressed no confidence in him, reported the LNK News on late Wednesday.

Such a decision was made by the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy after the sitting of the ruling coalition on Wednesday evening. The coalition partners decided that the minister could not resume his work because of the lost confidence.

“The coalition agreed on viewing Ušackas as a foreign minister favourably, but, without any doubt, it is impossible not to react to the present situation,” Leader of the Liberal Movement Eligijus Masiulis told reporters after the sitting.

“It will be as the coalition has decided. It means that I will obey the agreement of the coalition. (...) Yes (I will step down - ELTA),” the foreign minister said.

The State Defence Council has approved, in substance, the concept for strengthening the control and coordination of intelligence, which was worked out at the initiative of President Dalia Grybauskaitė and which will serve as the basis for restructuring the national intelligence system.

According to the President, the need to make immediate restructuring changes evolved not only because of the evident shortcomings in coordinating and controlling intelligence and the politicized nature and insufficiently effective activities of the State Security Department, but also because of new threats to national security.

“The work of Lithuanian secret services must be depoliticized and organized in a way that would allow politicians responsible for national and economic security to immediately receive the necessary information for decision-making.

Reaching a political agreement on the control and coordination of intelligence marks the start of building a more effective intelligence system,” the President underlined.

The President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė received candidates to the position of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Seimas Committee for Foreign Affairs, Audronius Ažubalis.

The parties of the meeting discussed the vision and priorities of Lithuania’s foreign policy and the prospects of cooperation between the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and exchanged views on how Lithuania’s role could be strengthened within the European Union and NATO and in its relations with neighbouring countries.

Vilnius, 19 January (ELTA) - On Tuesday, discussing a joint alternative Government programme, representatives of the Seimas opposition political groups formed an alternative programme working group and discussed the possibility of a new coalition.

“We propose to change the course of the current Government, which has deepened the crisis in Lithuania. Numerous countries of the European Union are handling this difficult times much easier, because they have chosen the promotion of domestic consumption, the reduction of taxes that fall on the shoulders of the weakest. Over a year, the unemployment increased almost four times, and it hit Lithuanian families and the very social system worst,” said Deputy Elder of the Social Democrats political group Juozas Olekas.

Representatives of the Order and Justice political group, Labour Party, One Lithuania political group as well as representatives of mixed parties participated in the meeting of the heads of opposition political groups.

“Currently, there are 59 members in the opposition. We see that there are conflicts in the ruling majority, the positions of some parliamentarians are in line with our proposal, this is a strong foundation on which we can unite.

“We offer a way that is socially fairer and easier, that would help Lithuania out of the hardship,” said Olekas.

According to the Leader of the Labor Party Viktoras Uspaskich, before going to Brussels after the New Year, met with the heads of the Social Democrats and Order and Justice political groups.

According to the Vice Minister of the Order and Justice, Party Valentinas Mazuronis, there is need to change the Government. It is important to change the course of the Lithuanian man­agement.

• Photo: Valdas Kopūkstas (ELTA)

Vilnius, Dec 31 (ELTA) - Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius called the control of the crisis as the most important task of 2009.

“The sudden and deep crisis was the most important event of the year. To manage the crisis was the biggest challenge. I am pleased that we managed to withstand and control the crisis, I cannot say that we managed to get out of it, but the very fact that we managed to control it is a significant achievement,” said Kubilius in the interview with Žinių Radijas.

The head of the Government noted that next year most focus will be put upon the unemployment problem.

Andrius Kubilius said the election of Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė was one of the most important events of the year. “Such election results are a great stimulus and support for people,” he said.

Lithuanian Prime Minister also said that the mini restructuring in the energy sector, the dissolution of LEO LT, the health and education reforms, the restructuring of bureaucracy were other important events of the year.

Vilnius, Dec 22 (ELTA) - Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė evaluates the conclusions of the Seimas’ Committee on National Security and Defence (NSGK) as another step towards transparency and openness. These conclusions have proven the suspicions of the President, ELTA was told by presidential spokesman Linas Balsys.

According to Balsys, the president does not think that the information which has been disclosed might harm Lithuania’s relations with the United States and recalls that the administration of President Barack Obama has started to go towards openness itself, thus this policy is continued.

The NSGK determined that there might have been a CIA prison in Lithuania, as there were premises, there were possibilities to trespass the Lithuanian border, there were aircraft related to the CIA, and the state authorities were not informed about that or informed superficially. NSGK did not determine if the prisoners were detained in Lithuania or not.

The NSGK decided to address the Prosecutor’s General Office and ask to determine whether former VSD heads Mecys Laurinkus, Arvydas Pocius and former deputy head Dainius Dabasinskas went beyond their commissions.

ELTA reminds that President Dalia Grybauskaitė ordered the Government to recall Mecys Laurinkus from the post of the ambassador to Georgia. Laurinkus served as Head of VSD from June 1998 until April 2004.

Pocius headed the VSD in 2004-2007. He was dismissed as soon as the unfavourable conclusions of the NSGK parliamentary investigation were confirmed.

In August this year, Dainius Dabasinskas was dismissed from the post of the deputy CEO of the State Security Department (VSD) and appointed ministerial advisor at the Lithuanian Embassy in Kiev.

Grybauskaitė to continue dialogue with Lukashenko

Vilnius, Jan 7 (ELTA) - The extradition of Gen Vladimir Uschopchik, living in Belarus, who is accused of conspiracy against the state in the case of the January 13 events in 1991, might be solved only at a political level, President Dalia Grybauskaitė says.

The dialogue with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko will be further developed with regard to that, the president adds.

“I have always believed that this issue can only be solved at a political level, thus, the political dialogue with Mr Lukashenko will be continued,” the President told journalists.

The Prosecutor General’s Office received a letter from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus stating that Belarus rejected Lithuania’s applications for legal aid in the January 13 case.

Repeated demands for criminal proceedings against Uschopchik and Stanislava Juonien, living in Belarus, were sent to the law enforcement institutions of Belarus in autumn 2009.

“The execution of legal aid application of the Republic of Lithuania in this case is against the essential principles of the laws of the Republic of Belarus,” the communication report reads.

(alfa.lt) A Lithuanian newspaper says sources in Lithuania’s centre-right ruling coalition have begun dropping hints about a looming cabinet reshuffle, the Baltic News Service has reported.
The daily Vilniaus diena said “unofficial sources” have told it that the prime minister and Conservative party leader, Andrius Kubilius, is looking at changing five ministers: Dainius Kreivys (Economy); Gediminas Kazlauskas (Environment); Raimundas Palaitis (Interior); Eligijus Masiulis (Transport); and Remigijus Vilkaitis (Culture).

At the tail end of 2009, Seimas speaker Irena Degutienė, who is also a member of the Conservative party, told public broadcaster Lietuvos televizija that a rearrangement of portfolios was likely to be on the cards in January.

“I see certain limitations in the government. And the prime minister sees them too,” Degutienė said in the interview with LTV. “In the New Year, we will hold a meeting to decide these questions.”

She said certain ministers were ineffective and the subject of too much criticism, but she did not say which ones.

from Alfa.lt

The head of Lithuania’s intelligence agency, the Department of State Security, stepped down on Monday 14 December.

Povilas Malakauskas, Lithuania’s intelligence chief for the past two and a half years, tendered his resignation during a morning meeting with President Dalia Grybauskaitė, a presidential spokesman said.

The president’s office gave no explanation for Malakauskas’ decision.

An official with the Department of State Security said Malakauskas had resigned for personal reasons, but did not explain further.

The head of the Seimas’ National Security and Defence Committee told Alfa.lt that Malakauskas’ departure could be related to a parliamentary probe into allegations that Lithuania hosted a secret CIA prison in 2004-2005.

Speaking to journalists later in the day, Anušauskas said that when his committee had first begun looking into the CIA prison allegations, before the launch of the formal inquiry, Malakauskas had been “ambiguous” in his answers.

Anušauskas also suggested that a formal inquiry would not have been needed if Malakauskas had been more forthright at the time. Anušauskas did not give any precise details about the questions asked of Malakauskas or the nature of the intelligence chief’s answers.

“If the responses we had requested had been presented to us on time and more thoroughly, there probably would have been no need to hold an investigation,” Anušauskas said.

Defence Minister Rasa Juknevičienė welcomed Malakauskas’ resignation.

“It was probably the right decision,” Juknevičienė told Alfa.lt. “The problems at the Department of State Security have not been resolved. It remains a politicized organisation that does not engender the public’s confidence. Malakauskas has been unable to change this in the past two years.”

Its critics say the agency, known in Lithuania by its acronym VSD, spends too much time watching Lithuanians, including politicians, journalists and civil society groups, instead of hunting for spies, and that it operates with insufficient public oversight.

The VSD’s deputy director quit the scandal-plagued agency in August following weeks of intense media scrutiny.

The mysterious death three years ago of a senior VSD officer while on a posting in Belarus is still a frequent topic of public debate.

Although the death of Vytautas Pociūnas was officially ruled an accident, many on the political right believe the true circumstances of his demise were covered up and that he was a victim in settling scores between opposing factions in Lithuania’s intelligence community.

Vilnius, Dec 14 (ELTA) - The chairman of the board of the State Social Insurance Fund (SoDra), Mindaugas Mikaila, has resigned.

On Monday morning, ELTA learned from the Social Ministry that Mikaila submitted his resignation letter last week.

“I cannot confirm the fact that he resigned but I can say that we have received a resignation letter,” said adviser to the social minister Juventa Mudėnienė

\The Ministry intends to submit more details on the resignation of the SoDra head later.
Mikaila himself so far has refrained from any comments.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius evaluated the future changes in SoDra favorably.
“So far I do not know any reasons as I have not seen the resignation letter. We will consider his application and we will probably satisfy it. Such changes seem to be beneficial. We need constructive thoughts and ideas. I think that we will meet the New Year in the SoDra system with good changes,” Kubilius told journalists after the Government’s meeting on Monday.

The prime minister said that he did not know who could replace Mikaila, but he assured that an appropriate person would surely be found.

• Photo Dž. G. Barysaitė

While on a working visit to Ukraine, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė has underlined that Ukraine might become a very important energy partner for Lithuania and for the whole European Union but only transparent and open relations will lead to success in this area.

At the session of the Council of Presidents of Lithuania and Ukraine, the delegations of the countries discussed energy issues and the possibilities to supply Ukrainian electricity to Lithuania after closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

Lithuanian and Ukrainian leaders underlined the need to ensure transparency of energy supply.
“Even before the actual trade started, Lithuania has already been approached by various intermediaries seeking to act on behalf of Ukraine. Such a path paved with old methods is not viable in Europe,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

In response to observations made by the President of Lithuania, Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko assured publicly in the press conference that every necessary measure will be taken to make sure that agreements between Ukraine and Lithuania on energy supply involved no intermediaries.

Vilnius, Nov 27 (ELTA) - Seimas Speaker Irena Degutienė proposed that Seimas members who used funds allocated for parliamentary activities for other purposes, and thus violated the law on the adjustment of public and private interests in the public service, would return the money to the state budget from their own pockets.

“If it is determined that a member of the Seimas spends money allocated for parliamentary activities for other purposes or in non-compliance with the law on the adjustment of public and private interests in the public service, he redeems the money from his own funds,” proposed Irena Degutienė.

According to the Seimas speaker, such provision will help to ensure that the state budget funds are used transparently and rationally, in accordance with the purpose and the law.

At the initiative of President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Seimas and the International Cultural Programmes Centre, a forum for creative society has been opened for the first time in Lithuania according to the Press Service of the President.

Addressing members of the arts, culture, educational, and business communities, who came together to discuss possible actions for using and streamlining the potential of creative individuals to build a modern state, President Grybauskaitė invited all of them - artists, scientists and entrepreneurs - to make a joint effort towards this purpose.

“Lithuania’s economic growth, its social well being, and the pride that its citizens have for their country will depend on our innovative ideas and our creative ability to translate them into reality,” the President said, placing a special emphasis on the importance of interaction
between culture, education, science, and business.

President Grybauskaitė pointed out that a creative person was the spark that drove Lithuania forward. Therefore, she said, we must seek ambitious goals, we must think and act as future disseminators of creative ideas not only in Europe, but also worldwide.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with her Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski.

In Warsaw, the two Presidents discussed important energy-related issues: the course of building an electricity bridge connecting Lithuania and Poland, and the problems of secure energy supply in Europe.

“Lithuania is prepared to co-operate closely with Poland in implementing the electricity
bridge project, and will seek to secure financing for this project from the European Commission within the new EU Financial Perspective 2007- 2013,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined.

The Presidents also agreed to co-patron events scheduled in the coming year to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the žalgiris Battle, announced the Press Service of the President.

Lithuania will chair the Fourteenth Session of the Conference of the States Parties
to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) from 30 November 2009 to 1 December
2010.

The Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, also called the Conference of the States Parties, is the main decision-making institution
that joins delegates of 188 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Lithuania, as the chair of the Conference of the States Parties, will play an important political and coordinating role until the next Conference of the States Parties in the end of 2010. Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is Lithuania’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Vaidotas Verba.

Vilnius, Nov 16 (ELTA) - A survey carried out in October shows that Lithuanian residents viewed President Dalia Grybauskaitė most favorably (89% of respondents).

Seimas Speaker Irena Degutienė, who made the largest jump in the September ratings, remained in second place with an approval rating of 63%. Ex-president Valdas Adamkus received 56% of votes. MEP Vilija Blinkevičiūtė was gathered 51%. These four public figures are the only ones that were favorably viewed by over a half of the respondents.

According to a poll conducted by Baltijos Tyrimai between 26 October – 6 November, the respondents evaluated Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, leader of the Conservatives, most negatively. An astonishing 82% expressed an unfavourable attitude towards the prime minister.
A large number (78%) of the respondents were similarly against former Seimas Speaker Arūnas Valinskas, former Prime Minister Social Democrat Gediminas Kirkilas (74%), MEP Vytautas Landsbergis (74%), Kazimira Prunskienė (64%), who initiated the establishment of a new party, and MP Liberal Centrist Artūras Zuokas (63%).

The highest jumps in approval were for Degutienė, who improved by 34%, Viktoras Uspaskich was up 8%, and the greatest decrease was for Prime Minister Kubilius who dropped 8%.

In conformity with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on Citizenship
of the Republic of Lithuania, and the rulings of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court of 30 December 2003 and of 13 November 2006, and taking into account the advice of the Citizenship Commission as well as the relevant circumstances and documents submitted, President Dalia Grybauskaitė has decided not to grant Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception to Katherine Leigh Copely, a national of the United States of America.

The Citizenship Commission held two sittings (26 March 2009 and 22 October 2009) to consider whetheror not Copely met the requirements for Lithuanian citizenship set out in the Law on Citizenship. Both times the Commission adopted a negative decisions and advised the President to refuse Lithuanian citizenship to Katherine Leigh Copely, stated the Press Service of the President.

Katherine Leigh Copely is the partner of Deividas Stagniūnas. They have formed a successful skating pair and were hoping to represent Lithuania at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.The duo took 14th place in the 2009 World Championships which qualified them for the Vancouver Olympics, and are widely acknowledged as having great potential.

Vilnius, July 10 (ELTA) - According to the data of the Finance Ministry, a total of 7.409 billion litas (2.15 billion euros) was planned into the state budget over the first six months of this year instead of the projected 7.602 billion litas (2.2 billion euros). A total of 193.8 million litas (56.12 million euros) or 2.5% less than planned was collected into the budget over January-June.

Over the first six months of this year, a total of 10.411 billion litas (3 billion euros) was collected into the state budget together with the assistance finances from the EU and other foreign countries. The EU assistance totaled 3.28 billion litas (949.73 million euros).

It is foreseen to collect 22.88 billion litas (6.62 billion euros) in revenues in the ratified state budget plan for 2009. 6.417 billion litas (1.86 billion euros) out of this sum is the assistance finances from the EU and other countries.

The drafted revised law on the budget foresees that the state budget revenues this year including the EU assistance will total 20.926 billion litas (6.06 billion euros), 1.954 billion litas (565.79 million euros) less than was ratified in the plan for 2009.

From now on no public information to be given on hostages - Usackas

Klaipeda, Aug 6 (ELTA) - The heads of the Foreign Ministry and Limarko Laivininkystes Kompanija, who met in Klaipeda on Thursday, encouraged the public and politicians to speak less about this accident.

Vygaudas Usackas and Vytautas Lygnugaris confirmed once again that the Lithuanians held hostage are healthy and alive, however, they did not reveal whether they had received the requirements of the captors and did not comment on any specific details of this accident, ve.lt reports.

“We are cooperating with various organizations, everyone is doing their work. I would like to encourage everyone, including politicians, not to speak about the things they do not know about, because the situation is very serious. I can only say that at the moment the captured Lithuanians are healthy and alive, everything is being done to release them - we are striving for that only via diplomatic channels,” said Usackas, who is coordinating the interdepartmental group.

Limarko head also abstained from further comments - allegedly this is being done upon the request of the relatives of the captured seamen.

“We have told them the same things that we did to you. Relatives are worried but they are acting calmly because they also realize the seriousness of this situation. One should not trigger them with comments or irresponsible contemplations,” Lygnugaris told journalists on Thursday.

According to him, the captured persons are 50-60 years of age.

“From now on there will be no public information. This harms,” Usackas said finishing the news conference.

Vilnius, July 8 (ELTA) - The Lithuanian residents trust president-elect Dalia Grybauskaite most. 45% of respondents expressed trust in her.

Outgoing President Valdas Adamkus and Social Democratic leader Algirdas Butkevicius took second and third places, however, the gap between them and Grybauskaite is considerable. 8% of respondents mentioned each of them.

The public opinion poll conducted by market research and public opinion company Baltijos Tyrimai at the end of May, asked respondents to name those Lithuanian public gures whom they trusted most. Participants mentioned names themselves without any preliminary.
In May, respondents mentioned a total of 64 public figures. In April, 78 names were mentioned.

Rolandas Paksas, leader of the political party Order and Justice; Viktor Uspaskich, leader of the Labor Party, and new MEP Vilija Blinkeviciute were also mentioned among top ten most trusted politicians. They were trusted by 5% of respondents each.

Former president Algirdas Brazauskas; Valentinas Mazuronis, deputy chairman of the political party Order and Justice; Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and Gitanas Nauseda, advisor to the president of SEB Bank, got 3% of trust votes each.

As of the beginning of the year, Grybauskaite, Butkevicius, Mazuronis and Loreta Grauziniene, deputy chairwoman of the Labor Party, improved their ratings most.

One fifth - 19% - of the respondents claimed that they did not trust any politicians or did not answer the question.

Vilnius, July 7 (ELTA) - Outgoing President Valdas Adamkus claims that he is transferring his post to president-elect Dalia Grybauskaite in good conscience and promises to help as much as he can if his assistance is needed in the future.

Having finished his term of of fice, Adamkus intends to go to Nida for a holiday for at least a week, and later to participate in public activities.

“I was working according to my conscience, thinking about what is best. Sometimes I would not answer all your (journalists - ELTA) questions, but I have never lied you,” the outgoing head of state told media representatives on Tuesday.

Vilnius, July 12 (ELTA) - New head of state Dalia Grybauskaite invites Lithuania to unite and build the state from the foundation. She also spoke in support of direct elections of mayors and community elders and highlighted the importance of responsible choice.

“My Dear Fellow People! As I travelled across Lithuania, I saw a lot of hatred and self-destruction. I saw a huge divide between poverty and wealth. Lithuania is in discord. I INVITE LITHUANIA TO MAKE PEACE WITH ITSELF.

We are one people. We are one nation. It is only working together that we will overcome the economic, political and moral downturn in Lithuania,” Grybauskaite underlined addressing the nation during the Presidential Palace takeover ceremony.

“Let us start from the foundation - the local government. Let us elect directly mayors and community elders, let us make local politicians account to their constituents. But let us not follow mistaken paths. If we vote for empty promises or guided by frustration, if we can be bought or can bribe others, democracy will become a mere parody of itself,” Grybauskaite claimed.

The president said that she was determined to dedicate her utmost efforts to the well-being of the people of Lithuania and not to rule, but to serve the people.

“Power is not for glory or money. POLITICS IS NOT A TYPE OF BUSINESS. IT IS A CALLING! I am here not to rule, but to serve the people. This opportunity to make life better and Lithuania stronger is my greatest reward and my ultimate goal,” Grybauskaite said.
The head of state underlined that the love for freedom and democracy is rooted in our hearts. And it is in our hearts that a nation is born.

“Was one thousand years enough for us to understand what kind of state we wish to be and what we actually are?” she questioned rhetorically.

Grybauskaite, who received a huge electors’ mandate, has become the first female host of the Presidential Palace. Up till now it was only men serving as the heads of state at all times.
A lot of people came to welcome the new president near her new place of service. Vilnius Simonas Daukantas’s square was full. The solemn ceremony also witnessed a protest, it was possible to see a placard “LEO LT - no” in the crowd.

Inaugurated President Grybauskaite and Valdas Adamkus, who has just finished his service as a president, were welcomed with applause.

Adamkus transferred the great Lithuanian state’s seal of office and Lithuania’s Constitution to the young head of state.

President Adamkus’s flag was solemnly lowered at the ceremony. It was presented to the president who has just finished his service.

Adamkus shook hands with high-ranking persons in the square including Seimas Speaker Arunas Valinskas, members of the Government, Constitutional Court chairman Kestutis Lapinskas, former president Algirdas Brazauskas, prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, first head of the restored independent s tate, foreign diplomats and MEPs.

Afterwards, Adamkus waved to the people and left. The flag of President Grybauskaite was hoisted solemnly.

Vilnius/Stockholm, July 16 (ELTA) - While on a working visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite met with Sweden’s Speaker of Parliament Per Westerberg and later with Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The president underlined that Sweden’s turn to hold the EU presidency fell on a particularly difficult period. According to the president, the Swedish presidency priorities mirrored very closely Lithuanian interests too. During the meetings, Sweden’s and Lithuania’s positions in addressing the financial crisis, and energy and environmental matters were agreed upon once again.

According to the president, the meetings with the leaders of Sweden’s Parliament and Government left her no doubt that Sweden’s interest in our energy sector was but growing.
“No one talks of this issue as of a purely commercial one anymore, but as of a political commitment to start implementing joint energy projects. We were assured by the Swedish Parliament that most political parties were supporting the construction of the NordBalt electricity bridge, for the financing of which Lithuania, Latvia and Sweden submitted a joint application to the European Commission yesterday. Sweden is ready to invest in this project and help the Baltic region to seek energy independence.”

Thanking Sweden for support, which, according to President Grybauskaite, had set this particularly important project into motion, the president invited Sweden to participate also in the project of construction of the new Ignalina nuclear power plant.

The president informed Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Lithuania’s intention to pursue demonopolisation of the electricity market, and while the Ignalina nuclear power plant would be underway, to concentrate on the development of alternative energy recourses. The president noted that Sweden’s experience in this field would be a great help.

The prime minister of Sweden reassured that energy security was important to the whole Baltic Sea region, and shared the view expressed by President Dalia Grybauskaite that a really functioning energy market must be created by joint efforts in the Baltic Sea region. He also expressed support to Lithuania’s aspirations to connect to the Nordic electricity grid as soon as possible.

The president has departed from Sweden to Latvia where she will meet with Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers today and with Latvia’s Speaker of Parliament Gundars Daudze and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday.

Vilnius, July 2 (ELTA) - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus received a letter from the U.S. President Barack Obama. In the letter, President Obama congratulates President Adamkus and all people of Lithuania on the Millennium.

“This is an auspicious year for your nation. In addition to commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the first written reference to Lithuania, you are celebrating the selection of Vilnius as the European Union’s 2009 Capital of Culture. Both events reflect not only Lithuania’s long and rich history, but also the extraordinary transformation your country has enjoyed since reaffirming its freedom nearly 20 years ago,” President Obama writes in the letter.

U.S. President also writes that the United States is proud to count Lithuania among its closest friends and most reliable allies.

“We look forward to our continued partnership in promoting peace, democracy, and respect for human rights worldwide. I applaud Lithuania and its achievements, and send my best wishes as you and the Lithuanian people celebrate an important milestone in your nation’s history,” the U.S. leader writes.

Vilnius, June 11 (ELTA) - Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius confirmed that British bank Barclays is getting ready to invest in Lithuania.

“It seems that an agreement with one of the biggest world banks Barclays on the establishment of its service center in Lithuania may be successfully signed. This is highly important. It would be a computer service center,” Kubilius said at traditional interview with Ziniu Radijas on Thursday.

According to the prime minister, this is one of the main steps in attempts to attract other foreign investments into the country. It is expected that an agreement will be signed with the Brits next week. Purportedly this is not only an investment of several hundred million litas, but also several hundred jobs for high technology specialists. Moreover, this would be a good sign for other foreign investors.

Barclays intends to invest about Euro 50 million (over Lt170 million) into a computer service center in Vilnius. It is expected to create about 100 jobs there at first, and by the end of the year this figure is

Vilnius, June 10 (ELTA) - The representatives of institutions monitoring the human rights situation are worried - situation in this area is constantly deteriorating since joining the EU.
It is pointed out that the number of ethnic and racial intolerance as well as intolerance to sexual minorities is growing and the situation of women, children and disabled people is worsening.

“Since the times when we joined everything that we wanted to join we are no longer feeling the pressure of the outside,” Henrikas Mickevicius, head of the Human Rights Monitoring Institute (ZTSI), names one of the main causes of the deterioration of human rights condition.

According to the expert, although the situation is deteriorating, people do not begin defending their rights in a more active way. It is noted that trust in state institutions is decreasing.

“Three quarters of those who think that their rights were infringed did not address anywhere. 80% of them did not address because they thought that this would not have helped. 40% of those who did complain sought help in non-governmental organizations and not in state institutions,” Mickevicius said.

According to him, such factors as emigration and economic development depend on efficient human rights protection.

According to the survey conducted by Vytautas Magnus University many emigrants do not return to their homeland not only due to economic reasons, but also because they feel more secure and respected abroad than in their own country.

According to Margarita Jankauskaite, project head of the Equal Opportunities Development Center, although the second state anti-discrimination programme has been ratified, it is hard to expect any progress, because complex attitude to discrimination is lacking.

Vilnius, July 16 (ELTA) - The Government is not satisfied with the incumbent banks’ activities and the fact that the loan bag has been closed, however, it does not have any influence instruments to change this situation. Acting Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius stated this at the Thursday Government hour at the Seimas.

“The only thing which we can do is to strengthen trust in the Government’s activities on the international markets. If borrowing becomes cheaper on international markets, it will become cheaper in the country too,” Kubilius said.

According to the acting prime minister, the Government is actively speaking with banks and trying to make pressure for borrowing to become cheaper, however, it cannot make any real influence.

“We are talking, expressing our remarks. We do not hold big instruments, however, we see the situation and attract the attention of the governments of those countries where the banks are operating to it. I believe that by autumn we will have the result of these discussions and new proposals,” the acting prime minister explained.

According to him, first of all the authority itself should seek solutions and not press banks. “That is why we are coming to you with reduced budget for the third time, because nobody will propose another variant,” Kubilius told MPs.

Vilnius, July 8 (ELTA) - Kazimira Danute Prunskiene, former chairwoman of the National Farmers’ Union, now honorary chairwoman of this party, is withdrawing from the party entirely. She will neither be a honorary chairwoman nor a member of the party. Prunskiene, considered a symbol of the National Farmers, is getting ready to establish a new centrist party.

Prunskiene has been disappointed by the rude atmosphere in the party and the party’s hypocrisy towards electors, as well as the behavior of incumbent party chairman Ramunas Karbauskis.

“The incumbent party leader, before becoming one, was making influence with his actions in order for the party not to get into the Seimas. This has considerably weakened the party’s position, which is also confirmed by the low amount of votes collected in the elections into the European Parliament (about 10,000 votes),” writes Prunskiene in her statement.

She intends to inform the public about her intention to establish a new party next week.
The new party is to be of centrist views, however, it will not be oriented towards only one group of society, the way it happened with the National Farmers’ Union.