LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024
- Vilnius hosts Three Seas Summit with focus on transport, energy
- Lithuanian MPs to vote on allowing purchase of defense components from China
- Lithuania's amendments to allow buying components, not software, from China – official
- 8 out of 10 people in Lithuania would back ban on gambling advertising (media)
- Zelensky arrives in Lithuania to partake in Three Seas Summit
- Zelensky arrives in Lithuania, to partake in Three Seas Summit (updates)
- Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius
- Lithuania allows defense procurement of components from China, other unreliable countries (updates)
- Private investments should replace EU ones in Three Seas region – Lithuanian president
- Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius (corrects)
- Initiatives to support Ukraine are loud, but need to be implemented - Zelensky in Vilnius
- Lithuania's first Michelin-starred restaurants to be unveiled in June – minister
- Zelensky in Vilnius calls for implementation of Western aid initiatives, wants air defense (expands)
- Lithuania favors broad European consensus on recognition of Palestine – finmin
- Ukraine's economy has to be 'built back better' – Lithuanian president
- Lithuania expects Moldova's EU membership talks to start in early summer – PM
- Seimas OKs acceleration of TEN-T projects (updates)
- Strengthening defense must become an investment priority – Lithuanian PM
- Lithuania sends anti-drones, generators, folding beds to Ukraine
- A dozen EU leaders gather in Vilnius to discuss ties, listen to Zelensky's requests
- Intermin: Lithuania ready as inflow of illegal migration up in Poland
- Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO
- Only political platform for peace talks is one proposed by Kyiv– Zelensky in Vilnius
- Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO (expands)
- Eastern, southern EU countries agree to improve infrastructure, connectivity
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024:
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to take part in the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum in Vilnius at 11 a.m.; to chair the Three Seas Initiative Summit at 1:30 p.m.; to take part in a press conference at 5 p.m.; to host an official dinner for Three Seas Initiative leaders at 6 p.m.
THE SEIMAS' plenary sittings to start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean at 11 a.m.
A joint commission of the SEIMAS and the Lithuanian World Community to hold a meeting at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
MP Ieva Pakarklyte to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. on an initiative to restrict the right of companies operating in Russia to bid for public procurement contracts.
PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to meet with Recean at 11.45 a.m.
SOCIAL PROTECTION AND LABOR MINISTER Monika Navickiene to meet with Michael Landau, president of Caritas Europe, at 3:30 p.m.
TRANSPORT MINISTER Marius Skuodis to meet with Mirek Dusek, managing director at the World Economic Forum; to moderate a discussion at the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum at 1 p.m.
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Vilnius hosts Three Seas Summit with focus on transport, energy
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit is kicking off in Vilnius on Thursday, bringing together the region's leaders to discuss enhancing cooperation in transport, energy and cybersecurity.
Delegations from 25 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia, are expected to come to the Lithuanian capital for the event.
Asta Skaisgiryte, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy adviser, notes that the Three Seas region almost coincides with NATO's eastern flank, so relevant issues overlap.
"We are talking about better connectivity, transport, energy, and military mobility, about how to improve it and what transport corridors to plan, and about energy resource supply, and diversification," the advisor has told BNS.
"The summit will also address the protection of critical infrastructure, because past incidents at sea have revealed that it is not yet adequately safeguarded," she added.
Nauseda will chair the 3SI plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders. The summit will also feature a business forum.
"Energy, transport and cybersecurity are the key themes running throughout the Three Seas Summit and associated events," Skaisgiryte noted.
Lithuania currently chairs the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 13 EU member states bordering the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners, and Japan is expected to join it as a new strategic partner during the summit in Vilnius.
Security for the event is being provided by 400 Lithuanian military personnel, and traffic restrictions are in place in the center of the capital.
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Lithuanian MPs to vote on allowing purchase of defense components from China
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament is expected to decide on Thursday whether to allow defense industry companies to purchase components for drones or other products from manufacturers in China or other third countries if they cannot find reliable suppliers at favorable prices.
Under the proposed amendments to the Law on Public Procurement, goods intended exclusively for scientific research, experiments, studies, or experimental development purposes, or for support to foreign states would be exempted from the ban between May 2024 and May 2025.
The exemption would apply to contracting authorities operating in the field of defense, managing critical information infrastructure, those considered a part of strategically important economic sectors, or included in the List of Secure Network Users.
The parliament will also vote on amendments raising the threshold for verbal contracts in the field of national security and defense, awarded under simplified procurement procedures, to 15,000 euros, from 10,000 euros currently.
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Lithuania's amendments to allow buying components, not software, from China – official
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – If the Lithuanian parliament approves the government's proposed legislative amendments, defense industry companies will only be allowed to purchase components, not software, from China, Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Karolis Zemaitis said on Thursday.
The parliament is expected to vote on Thursday on whether to allow defense industry companies to purchase components for drones or other products from manufacturers in China or other third countries if they cannot find reliable suppliers at favorable prices.
"The proposal is very limited in scope; it's only about components, or what we call 'hardware', not about software," Zemaitis told LRT Radio ahead of the vote.
The vice-minister said the purchased goods would be intended solely for testing and for support to Ukraine, not for permanent use.
"Such exemptions would be temporary, because our main goal is to develop a local drone ecosystem – from hardware to software. This takes time," he said.
According to the official, the proposal was tabled "without much enthusiasm for the Chinese drone market".
"We have to get our drone ecosystem going very fast and (...) require certain components for that. But this proposal will be very limited and (the authorities) will be monitoring very closely the use of these drones," he said.
China currently dominates the drone production market, making Western countries reliant on it, Zemaitis noted.
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8 out of 10 people in Lithuania would back ban on gambling advertising (media)
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Eight out of ten people in Lithuania would support a total ban on gambling advertising in Lithuania, according to a Baltijos Tyrimai poll for the public broadcaster LRT, published on Thursday.
49 percent would fully support such a ban, while 31 percent would be more likely to support it. 12 percent would rather disagree and 3 percent would strongly disagree. 5 percent had no opinion or did not answer the question.
86 percent of women and 72 percent of men surveyed, as well as 82 percent of residents of major and other cities and 75 percent of residents of rural areas, were in favor of a total ban on gambling advertising.
People aged over 50 (84 percent) were more likely to back the ban, as well as and those earning a monthly income of up to 1,100 euros (85 percent).
The lowest level of support was recorded in the 18-29 age group (70 percent).
Baltijos Tyrimai polled 1,115 Lithuanian adults on March 15-25.
In March, the Seimas accepted for further consideration amendments tabled by Mindaugas Linge, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance, and a group of MPs from various political groups, proposing to ban gambling advertising completely. The Seimas will further consider these and other amendments on April 25, when they will be discussed by the Committee on Budget and Finance.
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Zelensky arrives in Lithuania to partake in Three Seas Summit
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Thursday and is set to meet a dozen of leaders from Central, Eastern and Southern European countries in Vilnius.
His plane landed at Vilnius Airport at around 10.45 a.m., according to a BNS photographer at the scene.
According to information available to BNS, Zelensky will attend the Three Seas Summit.
This is Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the beginning of the war, and his fifth in total. His last visit to Lithuania was in January when he visited all three Baltic states.
Kyiv calls Vilnius one of Ukraine's biggest supporters as the country has been fighting the Russian invasion for more than two years and is facing stalling US support.
Lithuania is a strong supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. In terms of economic size, Lithuania is among the largest contributors of military assistance to Ukraine.
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Zelensky arrives in Lithuania, to partake in Three Seas Summit (updates)
Updated version: updates throughout
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Thursday and will meet a dozen of leaders from Central, Eastern and Southern European countries in Vilnius.
His plane landed at Vilnius Airport at around 10.45 a.m., according to a BNS photographer at the scene.
Zelensky will attend the Three Seas Summit. Before the event, he will meet with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda to discuss the situation on the frontline, the need for military and financial assistance, Ukraine's Euro-integration process and the prospects for NATO membership, the presidential press service said.
This is Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the beginning of the war, and his fifth in total. His last visit to Lithuania was in January when he visited all three Baltic states.
Kyiv calls Vilnius one of Ukraine's biggest supporters as the country has been fighting the Russian invasion for more than two years and is facing stalling US support.
Lithuania is a strong supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. In terms of economic size, Lithuania is among the largest contributors of military assistance to Ukraine.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – President Volodymyr Zelensky said that beefing up its air defense and consolidating international support is key for Ukraine now, as he arrived in Vilnius on Thursday morning.
"I arrived to Lithuania to participate in the Three Seas Summit and hold talks with the leaders of the partner countries," Zelensky posted on the X platform.
"The main task for now is to make every effort to strengthen our air defense system, to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and to consolidate international support so that we can overcome Russian terror," he wrote.
In Vilnius, Zelensky is also expected to sign a new bilateral security agreement between Lithuania and Ukraine.
The agreement commits Lithuania to providing an amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of its GDP in security and defense assistance to the war-torn country annually.
The document provides for the implementation of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which was adopted at NATO's Vilnius summit last July and joined by Lithuania and the other two Baltic states in August.
The agreement also outlines the modalities of Lithuania's support to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities and national security for the next decade.
Elements of the agreement include providing Lithuanian military, humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine to protect and restore its territorial integrity, deepening mutually beneficial security cooperation, strengthening Ukraine's economic and energy stability and resilience, and supporting Ukraine's rapid progress towards EU and NATO membership.
The document also calls for Lithuania's support to Ukraine in the areas of justice and the fight against corruption, and in seeking Russia's accountability for the crime of aggression and compensation for the material damage caused.
Twenty-five countries have joined the G7 declaration so far and eight have signed agreements with Ukraine on its practical implementation.
"Russian evil is a threat not only to Ukraine, but to every nation bordering Russia and to everyone who values international law," the Ukrainian president posted on X.
This marks Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the start of the war in Ukraine and his fifth visit to the country overall. He last visited Lithuania in January as part of his tour of the three Baltic nations.
Kyiv considers Vilnius one of its strongest supporters of Ukraine, which has been resisting Russia's full-scale invasion for more than two years and is faced with stalling US assistance.
Vilnius is an active supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. Relative to the size of its economy, Lithuania is among the top contributors of military assistance to Ukraine
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuania allows defense procurement of components from China, other unreliable countries (updates)
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday gave the green light for defense industry companies, which often struggle to find reliable drone or other product component manufacturers at favorable prices, to purchase these components from China and other suppliers deemed as unreliable.
The respective amendments to the Law on Public Procurement were passed in a vote of 77 to three with 21 abstentions.
Under the amendments, goods intended exclusively for scientific research, experiments, studies, or experimental development purposes, or for support to foreign states will be exempted from the restrictions between May 2024 and May 2025.
The exemption will apply to contracting authorities operating in the field of defense, managing critical information infrastructure, those considered a part of strategically important economic sectors, or included in the List of Secure Network Users.
MP Linas Slusnys of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats said that opening the market to Chinese products "is not the most cheerful" decision, but Lithuania cannot produce, for example, drones without certain components.
Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Karolis Zemaitis told the public broadcaster LRT earlier on Thursday that defense industry companies will only be allowed to purchase components, not software, from China.
"The proposal is very limited in scope; it's only about components, or what we call 'hardware', not about software," he said, adding that the purchased goods will have to be used solely for testing and for support to Ukraine.
The vice-minister said the authorities will ensure the control of goods and components purchased from China, noting that the use of software from China is already regulated by law.
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Private investments should replace EU ones in Three Seas region – Lithuanian president
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - EU investments should be replaced by private ones in Three Seas Initiative region as it has gotten economically stronger, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.
"The economic success of the Three Seas region has moved us closer to the well-developed Western countries. For this reason, a reduction in EU cohesion structural funding is already on the horizon. Now is the time for private capital to step up and invest in viable infrastructure projects of the Three Seas region," Nauseda said, addressing participants of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum on Thursday.
"To succeed, we must become an important hub for innovations in digital infrastructure, green hydrogen, electro-mobility development, and Artificial Intelligence," he added.
As Vilnius host the meeting of representatives from 12 Eastern and Southern European countries, the Lithuanian leader stressed the importance of such summits in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and strengthening transatlantic ties.
"First, I see close coordination with the European Union, complementing its cohesion efforts and helping it to achieve enlargement goals. Second, by having the United States of America as a strategic partner, the Three Seas Initiative reinforces the transatlantic partnership. The American participation brings massive changes to our region," Nauseda said.
In his words, as the war in Ukraine continues, countries from the Three Seas region are facing "the reconstruction of Ukraine as a massive infrastructural task – and a great opportunity".
Lithuania currently chairs the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 13 EU member states bordering the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners, and Japan is expected to join it as a new strategic partner during the summit in Vilnius.
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius (corrects)
Updated version: updates paras 3, 4, the agreement will not be signed with Lithuania
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says beefing up its air defense and consolidating international support is key for Ukraine now, as he arrived in Vilnius on Thursday morning.
"I arrived to Lithuania to participate in the Three Seas Summit and hold talks with the leaders of the partner countries," Zelensky posted on the X platform. "The main task for now is to make every effort to strengthen our air defense system, to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and to consolidate international support so that we can overcome Russian terror."
In Vilnius, Zelensky is also expected to sign a new bilateral security agreement. Zelensky's representative later told BNS such an agreement would not be signed with Lithuania. According to information available to BNS, it will be signed with Latvia.
Lithuania has also drawn up a similar document. The Lithuanian government approved it in principle on Wednesday but it remains to be seen when it will be signed.
The agreement commits Lithuania to providing an amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of its GDP in security and defense assistance to the war-torn country annually.
The document provides for the implementation of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which was adopted at NATO's Vilnius summit last July and joined by Lithuania and the other two Baltic states in August.
The agreement also outlines the modalities of Lithuania's support to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities and national security for the next decade.
Elements of the agreement include providing Lithuanian military, humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine to protect and restore its territorial integrity, deepening mutually beneficial security cooperation, strengthening Ukraine's economic and energy stability and resilience, and supporting Ukraine's rapid progress towards EU and NATO membership.
The document also calls for Lithuania's support to Ukraine in the areas of justice and the fight against corruption, and in seeking Russia's accountability for the crime of aggression and compensation for the material damage caused.
Twenty-five countries have joined the G7 declaration so far and eight have signed agreements with Ukraine on its practical implementation.
"Russian evil is a threat not only to Ukraine, but to every nation bordering Russia and to everyone who values international law," the Ukrainian president posted on X.
This marks Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the start of the war in Ukraine and his fifth visit to the country overall. He last visited Lithuania in January as part of his tour of the three Baltic nations.
Kyiv considers Vilnius one of its strongest supporters of Ukraine, which has been resisting Russia's full-scale invasion for more than two years and is faced with stalling US assistance.
Vilnius is an active supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. Relative to the size of its economy, Lithuania is among the top contributors of military assistance to Ukraine
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Initiatives to support Ukraine are loud, but need to be implemented - Zelensky in Vilnius
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Initiatives to support war-torn Ukraine must not only be launched but also implemented, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.
"All the initiatives when they begin, they begin very loudly, its important to finish them with the result for Ukraine, if we are speaking about the 155 artillery initiative or others," he told reporters at the Presidential Palace.
He was speaking after the EU failed to keep its promise to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 1.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuania's first Michelin-starred restaurants to be unveiled in June – minister
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The first Michelin-starred restaurant or restaurants in Lithuania are expected to be unveiled in June, Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite said on Thursday.
"A good day for good news! We did it! Lithuania will finally be in the Michelin Guide. The ranking of our restaurants will be announced in June," she posted on Facebook.
Michelin announced in a press release on Thursday that "the inaugural selection" of Lithuania's top restaurants will be unveiled in Vilnius on June 13.
"With the launch of the Lithuania Guide, we are proud to complete the Michelin Guide selection for the Baltic countries, providing a comprehensive resource when it comes to top-quality dining experiences in this region," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The Michelin Guides.
"Our inspectors are currently finalizing the first edition, which we look forward to sharing with food-lovers from around the world," he added.
The Michelin Guide is an internationally well-known and prestigious ranking of restaurants, where they are evaluated according to various criteria and awarded Michelin stars.
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Zelensky in Vilnius calls for implementation of Western aid initiatives, wants air defense (expands)
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Initiatives to support war-torn Ukraine must not only be launched but also implemented, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.
He once again called on the West to send air defense systems to Ukraine as Russia has increased missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.
"All the initiatives when they begin, they begin very loudly, it's important to finish them with the result for Ukraine, if we are speaking about the 155 artillery initiative or others," he told reporters at the Presidential Palace.
He was speaking after the EU failed to keep its promise to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 1.
In late February, the Czech Republic announced a new international initiative to buy hundreds of thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine from third countries. Lithuania has also joined this initiative by deciding to contribute 35 million euros.
During his meeting with the Lithuanian president, Zelensky also stressed the need for air defense systems.
"It is our biggest challenge today and you know that we were attacked last night, this early morning. Again, Kharkiv, again, Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, the Kyiv region, a lot of our regions, people. That is why for us the air defense is (...) the priority number one," the Ukrainian leader said.
For his part, Nauseda said Lithuania "is committed to do the best" to provide necessary assistance to Ukraine, adding, however, that the country's resources are limited.
"However, we are ready to supply you with anti-drone systems, armored vehicles, logistic vehicles, also some kind of 155 mm ammunition," he said. "This his is not easy but we are trying to do our best."
As the NATO Washington Summit approaches, the Lithuanian president stressed that Western partners must find a formula to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance.
The two leaders also hope that EU leaders would endorse a negotiating framework for Ukraine in June.
The decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine was made by EU leaders late last year. Lithuania is actively supporting Kyiv's membership and vows to help it implement the necessary reforms.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuania favors broad European consensus on recognition of Palestine – finmin
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuania advocates for a broad European consensus on the recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Thursday.
"We are probably looking for the broadest possible European solution," Landsbergis told reporters.
"There have been questions as to why we sometimes change our position with one or another vote, and it is mostly because I believe that our presence at the center adds the most value to the audibility, consistency, and the possibility of resolving the conflict," he said.
According to Landsbergis, it is difficult to say when EU member countries will agree on Palestine.
"The EU is divided into three groups: a group of states that is completely opposed to any step forward, a group that wants it to be done more quickly, and there is the center," the minister said.
"Lithuania has always been at the center, and our fundamental, principled stance is that Lithuania supports a two-state solution, while, of course, also respecting the principles of international law," he added.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in March that he would propose that his country's parliament recognize a Palestinian state.
In a joint statement issued on March 22, the leaders of Spain and three other countries – Ireland, Malta and Slovenia – expressed "readiness to recognize Palestine" when "the circumstances are right".
Landsbergis said that the situation in the Gaza Strip is "really bad and causes great concern."
"While Israel has every right to defend itself against terrorist attacks and demand the release of abducted people, it must ensure the principles of civil-humanitarian law. This is where both Lithuania and many of its partners have doubts about compliance," he said.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Ukraine's economy has to be 'built back better' – Lithuanian president
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday that it is important to talk not only about rebuilding Ukraine's war-torn economy, but also about making it better.
The president made the remarks as Vilnius is hosting the Three Seas Initiative Summit.
"An important topic is the help and assistance to rebuild and restructure Ukraine's economy. We need not only to rebuild, but we have to build back better," he said.
According to Nauseda, this presents a huge opportunity for countries in the region, which have a long history of political and economic relations with Ukraine and have a lot of experience in dealing with the Ukrainian market.
The president said that for Lithuania, which is currently holding the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, it was important to assist Ukraine and Moldova in their efforts to join the European Union.
"We did a lot in order to get those extremely necessary decisions regarding the candidate status initially and then the decision to start negotiations," he said.
Nauseda reiterated his expectation that the intergovernmental negotiations will start in June.
Speaking about the Three Seas Initiative Summit's issues, Nauseda said that in the current geopolitical context, it is important to talk about the resilience of state infrastructure, including critical infrastructure, and about the reinforcement of logistical systems to improve military mobility.
The president also noted that the Three Seas Initiative is expanding and attracting interest from new partner countries.
"I welcome Japan as a new strategic partner of the Three Seas Initiative," he said.
At the summit, regional leaders are discussing the development of relations in transport, energy and cyber security.
Lithuania is hosting delegations from 25 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
Nauseda will chair the summit's plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders
The Three Seas Initiative brings together 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners.
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Lithuania expects Moldova's EU membership talks to start in early summer – PM
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuania expects talks on Moldova's EU membership to begin in early summer, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said as she hosted her Moldovan counterpart Dorin Recean in Vilnius on Thursday.
"Moldova's progress in implementing the reforms necessary for EU membership deserves not only praise, but also a real start of negotiations as soon as possible," Simonyte said in a press release after the meeting.
"Having walked this path 20 years ago, Lithuania knows the importance of support and will continue to be a reliable partner always ready to help Moldova, as well as Ukraine," she added.
The two prime ministers also discussed the security situation amid Russia's continuing war against Ukraine, and bilateral cooperation.
Simonyte described Moldova's progress in the reform agenda as significant, emphasizing the importance of continuing the efforts.
She said that Lithuania is looking to step up cooperation with Moldova in the fight against disinformation, cyber and hybrid threats.
The officials also discussed the situation in Transnistria, energy security and other topical issues of bilateral relations.
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Seimas OKs acceleration of TEN-T projects (updates)
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure projects can be recognized as projects of special national importance after the Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday authorized the granting of this status to speed up their implementation.
86 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill on law accelerating the implementation of the trans-European transport network, there were no votes against and four MPs abstained.
The TEN-T network connects major EU cities, sea and airport ports, rail terminals and other transport hubs.
The Via Baltica and Vilnius-Klaipeda motorways, which are part of the TEN-T network, as well as the Rail Baltica European railway, the Vilnius-Klaipeda railway, the Kaunas Intermodal Terminal, the port of Klaipeda, and the airports of Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga have the status of special national interest.
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Strengthening defense must become an investment priority – Lithuanian PM
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – As Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, beefing up the defense of Lithuania and Europe as a whole must become an investment priority, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Thursday.
"Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the chosen confrontation against the democratic world compel us to make defense strengthening a priority for our investments – not only in our country but in Europe too, and also to help Ukraine win," she said in a press release.
Simonyte met with Nadia Calvino, president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in Vilnius on Thursday to discuss "the economic development and investment priorities of both Europe and Lithuania, also the support for Ukraine", according to the press release.
In her meeting with Calvino, the prime minister emphasized the strengthening of investment in the European defense industry.
The meeting with Renaud-Basso "focused on the significance of supporting Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure, which, as the prime minister emphasized, should not be postponed indefinitely despite the ongoing war".
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Lithuania sends anti-drones, generators, folding beds to Ukraine
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Lithuania has sent anti-drones, generators and folding beds to Ukraine as part of its continued support to the country, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the aid reached the war-torn country today.
"Lithuania continues to send aid to Ukraine. We are helping Ukraine in every possible way and we are looking for ways to increase this assistance. The arms and equipment we and our allies are sending are making a critical contribution to Ukraine's fight for freedom," Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas was quoted as saying in the statement.
In response to Ukraine's requests, Lithuania has this year already delivered 155 mm ammunition, M577 armored vehicles, anti-drone systems, winter equipment and tens of thousands of warm clothing sets, thousands of Carl Gustaf anti-tank grenade launcher ammunition and RISE-1 remote detonation systems to Ukraine.
Lithuania has provided Ukraine with around 1 billion euros worth of aid, including military assistance valued at around 610 million euros.
Some 84 million euros of assistance has already been provided this year, and the aim is to maintain such dynamics, the ministry said.
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A dozen EU leaders gather in Vilnius to discuss ties, listen to Zelensky's requests
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Leaders of a dozen EU member countries and Ukraine have gathered in Vilnius on Thursday for the Three Seas Summit to discuss ties and joint projects.
Although the summit was initially expected to focus on energy, transport and cyber security, the topics were overshadowed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's requests for more air defense systems for the war-torn country.
"I will share with my partners all the details what is going now on the battlefield in Ukraine. Of course, urgent needs for Ukraine. I think it's not only for Ukraine, (but also) for European security," Zelensky told reporters on his arrival at the summit in the Lithuanian capital.
"Number one, of course, is air defense. I will speak with all the details," he said.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who is hosting the leaders, underscored the need to rebuild Ukraine's economy.
"An important topic is the help and assistance to rebuild and restructure Ukraine's economy. We need not only to rebuild, but we have to build back better," he said before the meeting.
Estonian President Alar Karis emphasized cooperation between Northern and Southern Europe.
"Connections between North and South are not only the priority, they're also a geopolitical necessity," he said in Vilnius.
Karis named aid to Ukraine and Rail Baltica as Estonia's priorities at the summit.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose country joined the initiative last year, noted that the Three Seas Summit is taking place amid "geopolitical turmoil in Europe".
"Greece can significantly contribute to the Three Seas Initiative by opening up the southern route or connectivity (...) from the South to the North," he said.
Greece's participation in the initiative can contribute both to better rail links and to strengthening renewable energy, according to Mitsotakis.
Virginijus Sinkevicius, who is representing the European Commission at the summit, said the focus will be on reinforcing the region and Europe as a whole.
"Our strength comes in unity. (...) Today we need to unite again. First of all, to help Ukraine win the war, providing everything that Ukraine needs for that," he said.
Europe also needs unity in reducing dependencies on third countries, the commissioner said.
"We managed to decrease our dependence on Russian fossil fuels; now it's time to ensure strategic autonomy from China materials," he said.
Lithuania is hosting delegations from over 20 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
Nauseda is chairing the summit's plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders.
The Three Seas Initiative brings together 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners.
Nauseda welcomed Japan as a new strategic partner of the initiative.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Intermin: Lithuania ready as inflow of illegal migration up in Poland
VILNIUS, Apr11, BNS – Lithuanian officers are ready to respond as Poland has seen an increase in the flow of illegal migrants from Belarus recently, Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite says.
"We want to reassure everyone that Lithuania is managing and controlling the situation and that we have the highest level of vigilance," the minister told a press conference on Thursday.
If necessary, she added, the army and other services might be deployed to assist border guards.
According to the State Border Guard Service, some 450 illegal migrants tried to enter Poland obver the past 24 hours. Seven foreigners were turned back at the Lithuanian border yesterday.
Lithuanian border guards say migrants tried to enter Poland in groups of several hundred, behaved aggressively, and the army had to be called in to assist.
"Our colleagues managed to successfully resolve this conflict and prevent the entry of illegal migrants," SBGS chief Rustamas Liubajevas told reporters. "Illegal migrants were trying to force their way through the concertina in the border section where work is still underway and where the whole infrastructure is not yet fully put in place."
The migrants threw stones at officers and were armed with improvised tools. Luckily, there were no casualties.
Bilotaite says she has no intelligence information that such border violations could also take place at the Lithuanian border.
"But from what we see at the Polish border, we see a trend that if these persons are not allowed in, there is a risk that these persons could be pushed in an organized way into our territory or into Latvia's territory," the minister said.
She believed the emergence of a group of migrants at the border with Poland was orchestrated by the Belarusian regime and its officers.
Liubajevas says migration trends in the region are negative, adding, however, that there's no need to get Lithuanian troops involved for the time being.
Poland has been recently recording attempts by some 250 illegal migrants a day to cross its border. Meanwhile, there have been only sporadic attempts in Lithuania.
The influx of illegal migrants trying to eastern EU members from Belarus began in 2021, and the West accuses the Minsk regime of orchestrating it.
Almost 4,200 migrants entered Lithuania illegally from Belarus that year, but most of them have since left the country when movement restrictions were lifted.
Since then, Lithuanian border guards have turned migrants away more than 22,000 times. This year, border guards prevented 160 irregular migrants from entering Lithuania from Belarus via non-designated points. Some migrants have tried to do so more than once.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.
"There are no other alternatives for our security, we need this invitation to the Alliance. Ukraine and our people, our fighters deserve it," he said during the Three Seas summit.
NATO leaders agreed at the Vilnius summit in June that Ukraine would be invited to join NATO, but the likelihood of this happening in Washington this July remains vague.
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Only political platform for peace talks is one proposed by Kyiv– Zelensky in Vilnius
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The only platform for peace talks is the one proposed by Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the Three Seas Summit in Vilnius.
"The only political platform for peace talks is our proposed platform, which is the June peace meeting. Most of the civilized world, those who care, will attend this meeting," Zelensky told a press conference on Thursday, asked whether the US' failure to approve aid for Ukraine would force Kyiv to come to the negotiating table with Russia.
"There, we will outline a clear plan to end this war from the perspective of a just peace," he added.
The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that the country would hold a meeting in mid-June to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. Russia has said it will not attend the meeting, adding that the conference was pointless.
According to the Ukrainian president, the peace plan will be based on UN resolutions and the document will be then processed at a "technical level".
"Later, it will be possible to join this format in one way or another. All this will be discussed at the first summit and Russia will have to implement these steps for the sake of a just peace," Zelenky said. "This is the only format we see."
He noted that the loss of military support would be "very difficult for Ukraine, we will lose people, we will lose soldiers who are very dear to us".
"The issue is not only about territory. Others are spreading the Russian narrative that it is only about territory. No, it is primarily about people, but territories are also important for us because if you do not restore territorial integrity, it means that you are don’t respect your sovereignty, you turn it into a frozen conflict and it is only a matter of time before Putin comes back," Zelensky pointed out.
Ukraine has consistently stated that peace with Russia is only possible when Moscow leaves all the occupied territories.
A 60 billion US dollar (55.34 billion euro) funding package for Ukraine is currently stalled in the US Congress, but there are hopes that lawmakers could pass it in the coming weeks.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO (expands)
Updated version: updates throughout
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.
"There are no other alternatives for our security, we need this invitation to the Alliance. Ukraine and our people, our fighters deserve it," he told a press conference after the Three Seas Summit.
NATO leaders agreed at the Vilnius summit in June that Ukraine would be invited to join NATO, when it meets the requirements and once NATO member countries agree on that. However, the likelihood of this happening in Washington this July remains vague.
The Ukrainian president said, however, it was important for Europe to show that "Europe is not afraid and that NATO is not afraid of its own rules".
He also said that June would be a good time to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
"Ukraine needs a signal and should not be allowed to think that the European Union is weak," the Ukrainian leader said.
At the end of last year, EU leaders agreed to open EU membership talks with Kyiv, which was a historic step in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, launched by Moscow almost two years ago.
Brussels aims to present a framework for Ukraine's accession negotiations by the beginning of this summer.
"Putin is creating his own escalation timetable and he is responding to our actions. He wants to destroy us, he wants to destroy Ukraine and subjugate other countries," Zelensky said. "It is very important that countries around the world unite for peace."
By Greta Zulonaitė
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Eastern, southern EU countries agree to improve infrastructure, connectivity
VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Thirteen eastern and southern EU countries agreed in Vilnius on Thursday to step up the implementation of mutual infrastructure and transport projects and strengthen the region's role in international trade chains.
The agreement is part of a declaration signed on Thursday in Vilnius during the Three Seas Summit.
"A joint declaration has been adopted, which, I hope, will become a momentum to move forward in all priority areas," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told journalists after the summit.
The document states that the countries that are part of the initiative should accelerate efforts to build "resilient infrastructure and better connectivity" with the EU, develop renewable energy and digital innovation.
"We noted that the initiative has now 143 priority projects in the areas of transport, energy and digitalization," the president said.
The declaration also underlines the geopolitical importance of the Three Sea Initiative in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and includes the agreement to strengthen the "role and visibility" of the format and cooperation with the initiative's strategic partners – the US, the European Commission, Germany and new partner Japan.
"In the declaration, we expressed our strong commitment to the fundamental objective of the Three Seas Initiative to strengthen regional cooperation for a more resilient Europe and a stronger transatlantic partnership," Nauseda said.
The document strongly condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and vows to further tighten sanctions against the Kremlin.
In addition, initiative members agreed on a common position to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
The Three Seas Initiative brings together thirteen EU member states situated among the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Vilnius on Thursday to attend the summit.
By Lukas Juozapaitis
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