Weekly News from Lithuania, August 23

Aug 23 2019

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The Baltic Way catapulted the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian cause into the world headlines. On August 23rd, 1989, up to two million people joined hands in a north-south human chain to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – the deal between Hitler and Stalin which had carved up Eastern and Central Europe, and consigned the Baltic states to decades of ruinous and brutal foreign occupation. It united three countries that under Soviet occupation shared a common fate, but little else. It remains an inspiration to this day – pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong plan their own linked-hands demonstration on the anniversary, this Friday. But it had another effect too.

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POLITICS

Joint press briefing by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and President of Lithuania
Credits @ Rajya Sabha TV

Lithuania can be important technology partner for India: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said Lithuania could be an important technology partner for India as he underlined the immense potential for growth in bilateral trade between the two countries. Addressing the Indian community at the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Naidu also called upon the diaspora to serve as a bridge in strengthening economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

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		Linas Linkevicius @LinkeviciusL

#Lithuania is grateful to the Vice-President of #India H.E. @MVenkaiahNaidu for his historic visit which opened new… https://t.co/Mi4IlJXZg9

11:59 AM - Aug 19, 2019

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At the meeting of the Lithuanian and Estonian Presidents − focus on energy security in the Baltic region

On 20 August, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas during the visit to Estonia. The two Presidents discussed bilateral political and economic relations, strengthening of the Baltic trilateral cooperation, security situation in the Baltic region, NATO and EU agenda, including negotiations on the new EU financial framework.
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Lithuanian expatriates can now have their own single-member constituency

On 21 August, The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Elections to the Seimas providing for the establishment of a single-member constituency for Lithuanian expatriates. The new provisions of the Law were adopted by 88 votes in favour, with 4 votes against and 14 abstentions.

The authors of this amendment claim that the new practice will encourage a greater civic participation and political involvement among Lithuanian expatriates...

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

Revolution in Klaipeda: electric buses, new pedestrian streets and bicycle garages
Credits @ Klaipeda FEZ

Revolution in Klaipeda: electric buses, new pedestrian streets and bicycle garages

More people walking on foot, riding bicycles or choosing public transport, these are the goals Klaipeda sets for itself while defining its sustainable mobility goals for the next decade. The biggest plans in the short term are utilizing the Green wave, setting up modern bicycle garages, making the cobbled old town streets more comfortable and closing some streets to car traffic. Sustainable mobility is one of the tools to make living in the port city more comfortable, state experts, who are working hard to improve the health of the city and the people who live there by looking at examples from other European cities.

Kaunas is the rising star among startup ecosystems. It is the only municipality in Lithuania offering pre-acceleration programme and a series of networking events to startups free of charge. Kaunas INhas officially launched the 2019 Kaunas Startups programme today, which aims to help startups and entrepreneurial individuals develop new businesses. This year the programme focuses on early-stage ventures.

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