POLITICS

Linas Linkevičius: solidarity of values motivates us to support Georgia on its path towards European integration

On 12 August, during the round-table discussion on Georgia‘s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius emphasized that Lithuania actively supports Georgia because Lithuania’s priority is long-term, values-based policy. “Sometimes the results might not be visible as quickly as expected. You have to continue moving forward – when the time comes, Georgia has to be ready,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated during the discussion. “Lithuania’s example of seeking NATO membership shows that one cannot give up on its dream, its goals. Our country never had such membership prospect, which has been given to Georgia in 2008 during the NATO summit in Bucharest and once again reiterated this year in Warsaw. We have come a long way and we are ready to help Georgia to do the same,” said L. Linkevičius. During the event, particular attention was paid also to the commemoration of the 8th anniversary of the Georgia-Russia war. According to the Minister, based on the current events, the lessons of the war in 2008 were never learnt. In 2008, the response was strong, however, very shortly after attempts were made to normalize the relations. More

Juozas Olekas: procurement of military material from the Netherlands Armed Forces is only a part of our broader bilateral defence cooperation

Over past six months roughly 200 combat and medlift Mercedes-Benz GD vehicles, trucks, and other military vehicles were brought from the Netherlands to Lithuania to supplement and update the fleet of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. “Procurement of military materiel from the Netherlands Armed Forces is only a part of our broader bilateral defence cooperation, which by all means will only make it stronger. The Netherlands actively contribute to the security in our region by taking part in the NATO Air Policing Mission on a regular basis, two Dutch soldiers serve with the NATO Force Integration Unit in Lithuania. We very much welcome the intention of the Netherlands to deploy rotational forces in Lithuania, that is, an infantry company in composition of the German-led multinational battalion. It is a step which will significantly strengthen practical cooperation between the Netherlands and Lithuania, as well as NATO presence in our region,” Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said. More

ECONOMY

Adform to create 100 new jobs in Kaunas

The Kaunas-based division of the IT company Adform is moving to new offices in the centre of the city and tripling its current staff – they plan to increase the number of employees to 150. Adform started its operations in Kaunas in the middle of 2013 with a small team, and has been constantly expanding as the specialists improved. Currently, the division employs 50 specialists of Java, Scala, Net, JS, Hadoop, HP Vertica and other technologies. In business since 2002, Adform, which develops digital advertising software, has offices in 18 countries employing more than 750 people. The majority of them – more than 450 – work in Lithuania, where Adform started its activities in 2006. More

SOCIETY AND CULTURE:

Over 100 Ukrainian troops treated in Lithuania in 2 yrs

Rehabilitation services have been provided in Lithuania to over 100 injured Ukrainian troops since the beginning of military action in Ukraine. In 2016, it is predicted that 50 Ukrainian soldiers will arrive in Lithuania for rehabilitation, the Defense Ministry informed BNS. The treatment and rehabilitation is offered by the rehabilitation centre of the war medical service in the resort of Druskininkai. Valentin Reznichenko, the head of the administration of Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk region, told the media last week that Lithuania had been one of the first nations to take in injured Ukrainians. More

5,500 m2 modern laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources to open on the roof of Kaunas University of Technology

In the near future one of the buildings housing the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEF) at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) shall be turned into a modern laboratory of renewable energy sources. The roof of the building located at the KTU campus is about to be fitted with 1,520 units of photovoltaic modules while the modern underground geothermic energy system will be used for fulfilling the building’s heating requirements. Close to EUR 1 million-worth renewable energy generating systems will allow the faculty students majoring in Renewable Energy Engineering to gain valuable experience of working with the latest renewable energy technologies. This is the first laboratory of such scale to be used for teaching in Eastern Europe. More.

SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK:

Biržai

Biržai is a city situated in the North of Lithuania, in the county of Panevėžys. It lies about 200 kilometres north of Vilnius and about 100 kilometres south of Riga, the capital of Latvia. There exists various theories theories as to how Biržai got its name. According to one, its name may be derived from Lithuanian word beržas (birch): in ancient times, this territory was covered with forest dominated by birches. Others believe that the city has its name from Lithuanian word biržė (line, boundary), as it lies near the Lithuanian-Latvian border. One of the oldest cities of Lithuania, Biržai has an over a five-centuries-long history of being granted the status of city. The city lies at the confluence of two rivers, Apaščia and Agluona, and on the shores of two lakes, Širvėna and Kilučiai. More

Information based on BNS, Invest Lithuania, MFA, MoD, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Culture, Vilnius University, Vilnius Tourist Information Centre