LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, December 15, 2023
- Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
- Parliament to host conference on Ukrainian migrants in Lithuanian labor market
- Lithuanian leader hails start of Ukraine's EU accession talks as 'new page' in history
- Lithuania reports 1,072 new COVID-19 cases, 2o deaths
- Nauseda suspects ForMin of pushing through "certain people" for Polish ambassador
- Lithuanian govt vows to cover rent for 5 years, if Vilnius is picked as AMLA home
- Decision on support for Ukraine still needs "to brew a bit" – Lithuania's Nauseda
- Decision on support for Ukraine still needs "to brew a bit" – Lithuania's Nauseda (expands)
- Technical details to be agreed after approval of German brigade plan – Lithuanian defmin
- Lithuania's decision on tanks expected next year – minister
- First Leopard 2 tanks to return to Ukraine soon after repairs in Lithuania
- LSMU Rector Benetis elected president of Lithuania's Rectors' Conference
- Lithuania becomes repair hub for German tanks damaged on Ukraine's battlefields
- Lithuania hands over new ammunition shipment to Ukraine
- Lithuania's LTG Link to launch daily trains to Riga from December 27
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, December 15, 2023
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, December 15, 2023:
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda attending an EU summit in Brussels.
DEFENSE MINISTER Arvydas Anusauskas to visit the training area in Gaiziunai where Leopard II tanks brought from Ukraine and repaired will be tested.
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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday morning.
Latvia reported 12 attempts at illegal border crossings on Thursday, and three irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Wednesday, according to the latest available information.
More than 2,500 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.
Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.
The influx of irregular migrants to the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.
Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.
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Parliament to host conference on Ukrainian migrants in Lithuanian labor market
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – The parliament is hosting on Friday a conference on the situation of migrants from Ukraine in the Lithuanian labor market.
Its participants will discuss key challenges faced by labor migrants and look at how to solve their problems and help them integrate in the Lithuanian labor market.
Over 82,000 Ukrainian citizens and their family members currently live in Lithuania. While 29,500 migrants have found employment, they often encounter difficulties due to poor legal literacy, language barriers and financial vulnerability.
The conference brings together representatives from the US and Ukrainian embassies and the Ukrainian Ombudsperson's Office as well as Lithuanian ministries, the parliament, the Migration Department and the State Labor Inspectorate.
The conference is organized by the Lithuanian Trade Union Alliance in cooperation with the Centre for Combating Human Trafficking and Exploitation, and the public institution Socialinis Architektas.
By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė
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Lithuanian leader hails start of Ukraine's EU accession talks as 'new page' in history
BRUSSELS, Dec 15, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed EU leaders' decision on Thursday to start membership talks with Ukraine as "a new page" in history.
"A new page, a historic page has been turned, and I am proud of the EU, which managed to find the strength and power to take this decision," Nauseda told Lithuanian journalists in Brussels on Thursday.
"And, of course, this is bad news for the Kremlin's master, who probably hoped that the decision would not be taken. We let him down," he added.
The president also said that the EU's unanimous decision is great news to Ukrainians who are fighting "a brutal and unequal war against an aggressor who is throwing all resources on the altar of war".
"For them, this is a huge boost to their soul and spirit to withstand this pressure and continue on the path of progress," he said.
EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine despite Budapest's opposition.
The block also agreed to start membership talks with Moldova, grant candidate status to Georgia and open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina "once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved". The European Commission has been tasked with submitting a report by March with a view to taking such a decision.
According to diplomatic sources, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed not to be present in the room when 26 other leaders backed the decision on Ukraine.
Before the talks can be launched, EU states must agree on a negotiating framework. The decision is tentatively expected to be taken in March but might face resistance from Hungary.
"This is a process. When I say that we have turned a new page, I mean that there will be many more pages. And each of them will have a very specific content," Nauseda said.
"But you have to agree that without opening this first page of the book, you cannot read the book. It means the process has started and it can only move upward, not backward," he added.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuania reports 1,072 new COVID-19 cases, 2o deaths
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 1,072 new coronavirus infections and two deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday morning.
The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 548.6 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 37.8 percent.
The number of new coronavirus cases hit the peak in Lithuania in early February 2022 when more than 14,000 new infections were recorded daily. Around 1.36 million people in Lithuania have tested positive for COVID-19 at least once.
COVID-19 incidence in Lithuania took an upward turn in mid-September after having stayed at a low level since May.
Two-thirds of the country's population have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.
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Nauseda suspects ForMin of pushing through "certain people" for Polish ambassador
BRUSSELS, Dec 15, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says the nomination of the country's ambassador to Poland is stalling because he suspects the Foreign Ministry of trying to push through "certain people" for this position.
"I don't like the fact that this process is being politicized. And I can give you a very concrete fact that makes me think so: a competition is allegedly announced for the post of ambassador to Poland and, mysteriously, the candidates who took part in the competition have disappeared like in the Bermuda Triangle," the president told reporters in Brussels on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told BNS on Thursday night that he would not comment further on Nauseda's statements, while the minister's spokesperson Paulina Levickyte said the ministry regretted that "the president has inaccurate information".
"Back in 2021, the Foreign Ministry depoliticized the process of nominating ambassadors. The Foreign Ministry nominates exclusively career, professional diplomats for ambassadors after they score well during the ministry's internal selection processes," Levickyte told BNS.
Nauseda points out that the selection process leads him to believe that "certain people" are being pushed through to fill ambassadorial positions, bypassing other people who "may not be to the liking of the ministry's leadership".
"As long as I have such suspicions that this is the case, no ambassador, whether to Poland or to any other country, will be agreed upon and confirmed," Nauseda said.
He said this after Landsbergis claimed that the appointment of Lithuania's new ambassador to Poland was stalling by the presidential office, adding that the Foreign Ministry had submitted the first nominations for this post on time, almost 18 months ago. Landsbergis refused to give reasons why the president had not liked the candidates.
Presidential spokesman Ridas Jasiulionis told BNS earlier that the last nominated candidate was rejected because of his qualifications and because he did not speak Polish.
Lithuania's Ambassador to Poland Eduardas Borisovas was recalled on September 7 after his term expired, and the embassy is currently headed by Minister Plenipotentiary Audrone Markeviciene.
In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on a proposal from the government and with the approval of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.
By Milena Andrukaitytė, Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuanian govt vows to cover rent for 5 years, if Vilnius is picked as AMLA home
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – As the European Unions is establishing a new European authority for countering money laundering and financing of terrorism (AMLA), the Lithuanian government says it will cover the costs of equipping the necessary premises and rent for the first five years, if Vilnius is picked as its home, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste says.
"We are committed, as a government, to cover the costs of rent, equipment and maintenance for five years, and we hope that this will increase the competitiveness of our application," Skaiste said on Friday at the conference "AMLA - we are waiting for you in Vilnius".
"400 employees are expected to work for this institution, European specialists, and the budget of this institution would stand around 70 million euros. It is certainly one of the larger European institutions, so the competition is really high," the minister added.
The location for the AMLA office has already been chosen and it will be based at the Yellowstone business center in Vilnius, Skaiste said.
"The readiness of this building is very high, and if the decision is made, we can just hand over the keys to AMLA as the building will be fully ready," Skaiste said, adding that it was essential for the application that the building met the highest energy standards.
Lithuania submitted its application to set up the AMLA office in Vilnius in November. The decision on where the AMLA will be based and what specific mandate it will have is expected by the end of this year, and the new institution would start its operations in the first half of next year.
By Goda Vileikytė
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Decision on support for Ukraine still needs "to brew a bit" – Lithuania's Nauseda
BRUSSELS, Dec 15, BNS – As EU leaders failed to agree on a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says a decision should be made next month when EU leaders will hold an extraordinary meeting.
"The decision still has to brew a bit so that we make that decision in January, very soon, at an extraordinary meeting," Nauseda told Lithuanian reporters in Brussels.
EU leaders' Thursday meeting lasted into early hours on Friday and they managed to sidestep Hungary's opposition regarding the start of membership talks with Kyiv. However, no agreement on four years of support for Kyiv was made.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Decision on support for Ukraine still needs "to brew a bit" – Lithuania's Nauseda (expands)
Updated version: updates throughout
BRUSSELS, Dec 15, BNS – As EU leaders failed to agree on a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says a decision should be made next month when EU leaders will hold an extraordinary meeting.
"The decision still has to brew a bit so that we make that decision in January, very soon, at an extraordinary meeting," Nauseda told Lithuanian reporters in Brussels.
EU leaders' Thursday meeting lasted into early hours on Friday and they managed to sidestep Hungary's opposition regarding the start of membership talks with Kyiv. However, no agreement on four years of support for Kyiv was made.
Commenting on the talks in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the EU to unblock all the billions of euros in funds for his country for Budapest to consider overriding its veto on further aid to Ukraine.
On the eve of the meeting, the European Commission unblocked 10 billion euros of frozen EU funds for Hungary after the country implemented a judicial reform which, the EC says, eliminated shortcomings in terms of judicial independence. Critics say this was an attempt to buy off Budapest's veto power.
The Commission, Nausėda and other leaders, however, deny that.
21 billion euros or so earmarked are still out of reach for Hungary until the country implements other reforms.
"I’ve always said that if someone wants to amend the budget law, and they want to for several reasons, this is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it should get what it deserves. Not half, then a quarter, but it must get the whole thing," Orban said in an interview with Hungarian state radio on Friday morning.
Asked whether such statements could be called blackmail, the Lithuanian president said that "whatever word we choose, Hungary is really setting itself against the Community".
"I like clear rules. Money in Lithuania, Hungary and Belgium must be used for its intended purpose, in other words, the country must fulfill certain requirements to be able to use the money," Nauseda said.
"We also have problems with some of the money because we are not implementing the tax reform. But this must be linked not to Ukraine, not to the Middle East, not to any other problems," he added.
The aid package for Ukraine over the next four years is expected to include 17 billion euros in grants and 33 billion euros in loans. Kyiv needs this money to sustain its war-torn economy.
Diplomatic sources say EU leaders considered sharing Hungary's share of the grants, but French President Emmanuel Macron said this could send a negative message about EU unity.
Alternatively, EU leaders also considered providing aid to Ukraine for 2024 only and providing it from the 26 EU countries that are in favor, and not from the common budget. However, in the end it was decided to continue negotiations in January.
"What we could have done, so to speak, to test ground to see how much consensus we have, we did that yesterday, we said that the position is what it is. In the meantime, we will still find opportunities to look for other solutions and to have options A, B, C," Nauseda said, adding that over the up coming weeks, "things could happen that could change Hungary's opinion".
"Therefore, there is no need to break it by force. I think the most important thing is that Ukraine receives the money on time, so nobody is going to wait until March or April," the Lithuanian president said.
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Technical details to be agreed after approval of German brigade plan – Lithuanian defmin
JONAVA DISTRICT, Lithuania, Dec 15, BNS – The action plan for the deployment of a German brigade to Lithuania, planned to be signed next week, will outline specific infrastructure setup and troop relocation timelines, with technical details for each facility to be defined in subsequent agreements, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Friday.
"A lot has been communicated, but (...) the letter of intent will define the time scale of what will be implemented," Anusauskas told reporters at the Gaiziunai training area in the central district of Jonava.
"But, of course, there will be detailed technical agreements for each facility; that work will be continuous," the minister said. "From next year, there will be a reception group for the brigade here. The work is continuous, daily."
"There will be additional technical agreements in each case, and there will be more than one of them, in addition to the general agreement that we hope to prepare between Germany and Lithuania next year," he added.
The plan, to be signed by Anusauskas and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Vilnius on Monday, will outline "the intentions of both countries regarding the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania and the subsequent steps for its full deployment", the Lithuanian Defense Ministry has said.
The gradual stationing of the German brigade in Lithuania is planned to begin next year and be completed in 2027.
The core of the German brigade should consist of 5 battalions, including tank and artillery battalions.
In total, around 5,000 German brigade soldiers and civilians are expected to be stationed in Lithuania, with families likely to join them due to the long rotation period.
By Ignas Jačauskas
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Lithuania's decision on tanks expected next year – minister
GAICIUNAI TRAINING AREA, Jonava District, Lithuania, Dec 15, BNS - Lithuania will have to make a political decision next year on which tanks to buy for its army, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says, adding that the Defense Ministry has already gathered the necessary information for the State Defense Council to make this decision.
"No political decision has been made so far. The Defense Ministry has gathered everything, assessments, everything has been submitted. The SDC will make a political decision," he told reporters in Jonava District on Friday. "We need that decision next year."
Earlier this year, Lithuania sent a letter of intent to the German Defense Ministry for the purchase of Leopard tanks, but this does not yet indicate Lithuania's final decision to buy these particular tanks, the ministry said.
The ongoing discussions with Germany have focused on whether Lithuania could buy Leopard tanks by entering into one of the defense industry's existing or planned orders to get tanks sooner, Anusauskas said.
Lithuanian officials say they are now looking into three models of tanks produced by German, US and South Korean companies. And the German Leopard tanks best meet the operational requirements of the Lithuanian army, they say.
Lithuania wants to buy tanks as it plans to set up a division within its army.
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First Leopard 2 tanks to return to Ukraine soon after repairs in Lithuania
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS – The first batch of war-damaged Leopard 2 tanks have been repaired for Ukraine in Lithuania and will soon return to the battlefield, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
Some of the repaired tanks were demonstrated at the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Gaiziunai training area in the central district of Jonava on Friday.
"Lithuania has been consistently supporting Ukraine's fight for its independence, not only by sending military aid, but also by helping to repair Leopard tanks, which are badly needed on the battlefield," Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said in a press release.
The exact number of the tanks has not been disclosed.
The tanks were repaired by Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), a joint venture between Germany's Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Europe's largest military equipment manufacturers.
The company was set up in Lithuania in 2022 for the maintenance and repair of combat vehicles operated by NATO allied forces stationed in the Baltic Sea region.
LDS' facilities in Jonava in October started repairing damaged Leopard 2 tanks brought to from Ukraine's battlefield.
Lithuania has already organized the repair and return to Ukraine of self-propelled PzH2000 howitzers that had been handed over to Kyiv and participated in military operations, according to the Defense Ministry.
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LSMU Rector Benetis elected president of Lithuania's Rectors' Conference
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS - Professor Rimantas Benetis, the rector of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), has been elected president of Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian University Colleges.
He will replace Vilnius Rector Professor Rimvydas Petrauskas who has served in this position for two terms.
Rectors elect the president for a one-year term by a simple majority of votes cast at the general meeting of conference members.
This organization coordinates relations among universities, as well as with public institutions, maintains relations with the European University Association and other international organizations, and acts as an expert on study, research and experimental development policy.
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Lithuania becomes repair hub for German tanks damaged on Ukraine's battlefields
GAIZIUNAI TRAINING AREA, Jonava District, Lithuania, Dec 15, BNS – "In a Ukrainian Leopard through a Lithuanian forest", Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas wrote in the caption of a video he posted on Facebook on Friday after he was given a ten-minute tank ride over rough terrain in one of the Lithuania's military training areas.
Lithuania is becoming a repair hub for German-made Leopard tanks damaged in combat in Ukraine, which is fighting back against Russia's military aggression.
"What can I say... A powerful, powerful tank," Anusauskas told journalists at the Gaiziunai training area in the central district of Jonava after the ride.
The minister was shown two repaired Leopard tanks slated to be transported back to Ukraine in January.
The tanks were repaired by Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), a joint venture set up in Lithuania last year by Germany's Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Europe's largest military equipment manufacturers.
Among few in Europe
Tank repair operations in Lithuania started in October and, under the current contract, will continue until the end of next year.
LDS will repair Leopard 2 A6 and Leopard 2 A5 modifications damaged on the battlefield.
"For these variants, this is the only hub," LDS CEO Sebastian Dietz told reporters.
Other Leopard modifications are repaired in Poland.
Neither the Defense Ministry nor LSD would disclose the total number of Leopards brought to Lithuania for repairs.
"We will repair as many (tanks) as necessary and as many as will be delivered," said LSD COO Aivaras Kasuba.
"I cannot comment on how many; just like on the battlefield, we cannot plan how many vehicles will be damaged," he added.
Dietz said that all damages to the tanks brought to Lithuania had been sustained in combat.
"We have received all kind of damages from direct hits, mines, drone attacks, also water damages," he said. "So we have all kinds of the damages to the turret and to the vehicle."
On Friday, journalists were shown the post-repair testing of the tanks, during which Anusauskas had the opportunity to ride in a Leopard for the first time.
Neither LDS' facilities in Jonava District nor the damaged tanks currently under repair were shown, citing confidentiality and security reasons.
Cold War scenario comes true
Around ten people, both Lithuanians and Germans, are involved in the tank repair operations.
According to Dietz, repairs are commissioned by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and carried out based on an agreement between the German Defense Ministry, which sent the tanks to Kyiv, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Kasuba said that the main reason why the tanks are repaired in Lithuania is that the German companies that own LDS are also the Leopard manufacturers.
The Leopard 2 tank was developed during the Cold War with a view to potential clashes with Soviet weaponry.
This scenario has come true, albeit probably not as envisaged by the politicians and generals of that time.
Almost 25 years after the Leopard 2 was presented to the West German army, the tanks are supplied to Ukraine, which has been resisting for two years now the invasion of Russia, which is using Soviet weapons.
This is what interests the Leopard 2 manufacturers, according to the company repairing the tanks in Lithuania.
"We are developing and collecting unique information and experience while repairing these tanks," said Kasuba.
"I can say that this is very important for the manufacturer, both technologically and tactically," he added.
By Saulius Jakučionis
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Lithuania hands over new ammunition shipment to Ukraine
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS - Lithuania on Friday handed over a new shipment of military aid to Ukraine, the Defense Ministry.
The Lithuanian army has taken several millions of rounds and several thousand grenades for short-range anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine as well as around 1,000 folding cots.
"We hear Ukraine's urgent requests and continue to provide support according to the needs expressed. We actively encourage our allies to do the same," Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said.
In addition to the regular transfer of military equipment, Lithuania is also actively training Ukrainian soldiers, providing medical treatment and rehabilitation, expert advice, and is contributing to international funds for Ukraine.
Lithuania has earmarked a 200 million euro military aid package for Ukraine for 2024-2026.
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Lithuania's LTG Link to launch daily trains to Riga from December 27
VILNIUS, Dec 15, BNS - LTG Link, the passenger arm of Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), Lithuania's state-owned railway company, has received a safety certificate from the European Union Agency for Railways for its operations in Latvia, allowing it to carry passengers in the neighboring country.
Direct trains to Riga will run daily from December 27, leaving Vilnius for Riga in the morning and returning in the afternoon, the company said on Friday. It will take just over 4 hours to get from Vilnius to Riga by train, which will be similar to a car trip.
Lithuanian Transport and Communications Minister Marius Skuodis says this is one of the most important projects of the year for him personally in the field of rail transport.
"This means that there are no more obstacles to the Vilnius-Riga route and passengers will be able to reach the Latvian capital from December7 by taking a direct train from Vilnius! In Lithuania, this route will go via Kaisiadorys, Siauliai and Joniskis, and Jelgava in Latvia - in," the minister posted on Facebook.
The route was agreed by the transport ministers and prime ministers of the three Baltic states.
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