On 25 April, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius congratulated Volodymyr Zelenski, who has been elected President of Ukraine, in Kiev.

“Big support of the nation in all regions of Ukraine offers you a unique opportunity to consolidate the country for ensuring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence, for continuing reforms, combating corruption, and implementing the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine,” said Mr Minister and wished the new Ukrainian head of state attainment of aspired goals. 

Mr Minister handed over a periscope, a gift from Lithuanian volunteers, to the president-elect. Acquired on the funds donated by Lithuanian people, such periscopes have saved dozens of lives of the Ukrainian military on the frontline with Russia.

On Wednesday, May 1, at 12 a.m. an official commemoration and a public celebration will be held in Daukantas square next to the Presidential Palace to mark the 15th anniversary of Lithuania‘s membership of the European Union.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė, members of the Government and the Parliament, foreign ambassadors and defense attachés, youth and pupils’ organizations as well as city residents and guests will attend the celebration.

The commemoration will start with a solemn ceremony of hoisting Lithuanian and EU flags. During the official ceremony at the square, President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Speaker of the Parliament Viktoras Pranckietis and Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevičius will congratulate all the people of Lithuania.

Public election committees will run in the European Parliament elections in Lithuania for the first time this year, reported LETA/BNS.

Laura Matjosaityte, head of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), noted this during Tuesday's ceremony of drawing lots for the ballot order for the May 26 elections.

In 2018, the employment rate of people aged 20 to 64 in the European Union (EU) stood at 73.2%, up compared with 2017 (72.2%). The Europe 2020 strategy target is to reach a total employment rate for people aged 20 to 64 of at least 75% in the EU by 2020, releases Eurostat.


This objective has been translated into different national targets in order to reflect the situation and possibilities of each Member State to contribute to the common goal.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources in Lithuania. The measure, open to all types of renewable generation, will contribute to the EU environmental objectives without unduly distorting competition.

A ballet dancer of the “state pension age“ pirouetting for ten minutes and a famous jazz musician whose virtuosity is limited to a single note. Female musicians from the “Lithuania“ ensemble playing kanklės, a Lithuanian plucked string instrument, and hypnotising hand choreography. The rap hit “Candy shop“ turned into a lullaby. 

The evening of three performances by the performance artist and creator of contemporary opera, composer, sound artist, violinist and vocalist Lina Lapelytė at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art told the story about beauty, status, facade and the behind the scenes, body reality and its cultural images, power play, tradition, classics, pop and many other. All these stories are part of the Lithuanian culture festival taking place in Tel Aviv from March until the end of May under the title “Lithuanian Story“.

Featuring Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Harry Christophers, and – in the Gramophone Collection – Nielsen’s Violin Concerto.

In the May issue of Gramophone, on sale now, we bring you a fascinating cover feature on Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, the conductor whose exclusive signing to DG will allow the world to witness her unique relationship with the CBSO.

The Lithuanian Film Center, together with the Center for Equality Advancement and the Lithuanian Center for Human Rights, is launching a project which aims at ensuring that the film industry is a safe environment for all those involved.

The Film Center has received demands to ensure women’s equality in the film industry. During the 2017 #metoo movement, certain cases in the Lithuanian film industry and responses to them demonstrated that it is necessary to take specific measures to assess the extent of sexual harassment in the film industry, to increase its recognition, to take effective preventive measures and to make agreements that would secure the principles for a safe creative and working environment.

This year, CEUFF presented films by the leading European filmmakers, many of which were nominated and/or already recognized by the Oscars, Cannes, Venice and Berlin film festivals. CONGRATULATIONS to film director Arūnas Matelis, film producer Algimantė Matelienė and the Team for winning a prestigious Honorable Mention title. It was a true honor to present this unique film, a “bible of cycling”, here in Chicago. Thank you to the Chicago Lithuanians and all cinefiles of Chicago for coming out to see the film and for your votes! We look forward to new exciting films next year!