LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, November 15, 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Lithuanian, Polish presidents discuss security situation, support for Ukraine
Vilnius Airport receives anonymous bomb threat, evacuates passengers
20 irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuania's Freedom Party nominates Zalimas for president, he vows to be fair to everyone
Lithuania reports 736 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death
Lithuania fulfils commitments on China, Taiwan – speaker
Lithuania, Germany to sign brigade agreement next year – ministry
Vilnius Airport operates normally again after bomb threat
Lithuania, Germany to sign brigade agreement next year – ministry (expands)
Watchdog to probe Lithuanian president, UK ambassador's opera visit
Lithuanian govt OKs plans to set up Coast Guard Frontier District
Govt bans more dual-use goods from passing through Lithuania
Prosecutor urges chair to step aside as Lithuanian parlt panel starts whistleblower probe
Lithuanian troops take part in exercise in Germany
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, November 16, 2023

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, November 15, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, November 15, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to receive credentials from Ambassador Aliou Barry of the Republic of Guinea at 1 p.m.; to receive credentials from Nepalese Ambassador Ram Swarth Ray at 2 p.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with Ambassador of the Order of Malta Christoph Calic at 9.30 a.m.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to attend a commemoration of the International Day for Tolerance at 9 a.m.

HEALTH MINISTER Arunas Dulkys to pay a working visit to the United States.

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Lithuanian, Polish presidents discuss security situation, support for Ukraine

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda yesterday had a phone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda and they discussed the regional security situation, the course of the war in Ukraine, as well as support for Ukraine.

Nauseda underscored that as new conflicts emerge in Europe’s neighborhood, it is important to maintain the international community’s focus on Ukraine. According to the Lithuanian president, Lithuania and Poland must not only continue to actively support Ukraine, but also mobilize allies and partners to maintain the speed and the scope of support, the presidential press service said on Tuesday

"Lithuania and Poland fully understand the importance of Ukraine’s victory against Russia. This is the only way to achieve peace and stability in Europe. We cannot let the war fatigue set in and we have to continue keeping our support for Ukraine at the top of the international agenda," Nauseda added.

During the conversation, the Lithuanian president underlined that as the security situation in the region is not improving, Lithuania is actively investing in defense, adding that cooperation between Lithuania and Poland in ensuring the security of the region, both bilaterally and within NATO, is of utmost importance.

Nauseda also stressed the need to effectively implement the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, as well as to put more emphasis on improving military mobility in the region.

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Vilnius Airport receives anonymous bomb threat, evacuates passengers

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS - Vilnius Airport received an anonymous call on Wednesday morning, saying that a bomb had been planted, Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU), the airport operator in Lithuania, said.

In response, some passengers were evacuated from the airport.

"All special services were immediately informed, and the airport is undergoing a space check and situation assessment. While the common areas are being checked and the information is being assessed, passengers have been evacuated from the common areas of the arrival and departure terminals," LTOU said.

Around 100 people were reportedly evacuated.

Julija Samorokovskaja, spokeswoman for the Vilnius District Chief Police Commissariat, told BNS that the call was received at 8.22 am. The police were informed by the head of airport security. Officers are currently checking the airport.

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20 irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 20 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday morning.

Latvia reported 35 attempts at illegal border crossings on Tuesday, and 46 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Monday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 2,374 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 some 21,600 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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Lithuania's Freedom Party nominates Zalimas for president, he vows to be fair to everyone

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Lithuania's Freedom Party, part of the ruling block, has nominated Dainius Zalimas, a former president of the country's Constitutional Court, for president.

"I think the goals are both to offer an alternative and to win," Zalimas, now dean of Vytautas Magnus University's Faculty of Law, told BNS on Tuesday. "My business and professional qualities, my experience in both professional and state work, could allow me to make this institution fair for everyone."

Zalimas, 50, is a constitutional law expert with a PhD from Vilnius University, who has been working at the Constitutional Court since 2011, served as the court's president since 2014.

In 1996, Zalimas joined the Homeland Union, but left the party after five years.

From 1998 to 2011, the presidential candidate served as an advisor to the defense minister. During this period, he ran in three elections, representing the Homeland Union list. He is currently a lecturer at the Institute of International and European Union Law at VMU and Mykolas Romeris University.

The Freedom Party candidate says the presidential office has been "largely exploited for personal, insulting ambitions or to pander to outdated stereotypes" in recent years.

"The president must be fair to everyone. This is one of the basic constitutional imperatives," the lawyer said. "At the moment, we see virtually no leadership of moral authority, nor leadership on issues that are core to the country. We do not want to waste another five years. The last year of the presidency, I think, is a period of lost opportunities and stagnation for Lithuania."

Common values

Zalimas says that he shares common values with the Freedom Party that was founded just over four years ago.

"We share the same values, including the rule of law, human rights, democracy, and finally the need to take decisions and act decisively," Zalimas said. "This is a natural convergence of values. (...) We have found each other, indeed."

Asked what's his main difference from Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, who has the backing of some liberals and has been nominated for president by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Zalimas said he's open.

"What the government and many political leaders are lacking is openness, honesty and direct communication with the public," he said, adding that even good decisions that not properly explained "get tangled in conspiracy theories and are used for spreading disinformation".

"We probably need new and fresh faces in the political arena," Zalimas said.

Vows to share European Council visits

Polls show incumbent Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is the clear favorite to win the election, with lawyer Ignas Vegele and Simonyte also in the TOP-3.

Vegele and Nauseda, however, have not yet announced whether they will run for president.

Zalimas says he sees no need to change Lithuania's foreign policy stance, but stresses that it could be tougher.

"Of course, the support for freedom around the world and, above all, the unconditional support for Ukraine, because Lithuania's future depends on it, remains key. However, there are untapped opportunities here, and these opportunities lie within presidential leadership, perhaps in terms of formation of appropriate positions within the EU and NATO," the lawyer said.

"I really miss Lithuania's stronger voice, and I think it could have one. (...) Sometimes, it seems to me, Lithuania's position is expressed too moderately," he added.

Zalimas also believes Nauseda needs to work more closely with the government and Foreign Ministry when appointing Lithuanian diplomats.

The presidential candidate points out that, unlike the current Lithuanian president, he would share visits to European Council meetings with the prime minister.

"I think that the one who is responsible for the issue under discussion should go," Zalimas said.

He believes the president's specific role in domestic policy depends on "who the president has to cooperate with, what government and ruling coalition".

"The president should play the role of a rallying authority and show leadership when various controversial issues arise, as well as initiative to resolve these issues, and not just criticize from the side, looking down," Zalimas said.

Lithuania will elect e new president in May.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuania reports 736 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 736 new coronavirus infections and one death from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Wednesday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 244.4 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 31.8 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 1.19 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.

Some 68.5 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

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Lithuania fulfils commitments on China, Taiwan – speaker

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS - Lithuania is fulfilling its commitments towards China and Taiwan, including the One-China principle, Speaker of the Seimas Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen says.

Questions about Lithuania's foreign policy on these issues emerged sphere after the Taiwanese foreign minister visited Lithuania last week and the Seimas speaker decided to meet with him.

Meanwhile, Lithuania's other government officials, including Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, refused to meet with Taiwan's top diplomat Joseph Wu in order to avoid any hint of recognition of Taipei.

"That line is being maintained and we are doing so in line with our previous commitments, which include the One-China policy," Cmilyte-Nielsen told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Wednesday.

She says Lithuania is establishing "economic, academic, cultural and human relations" with Taiwan, not diplomatic ties.

"I see what has happened in Lithuania in recent weeks and the arrival of Taiwan's foreign minister as a consistent compliance with our commitments," the Seimas speaker said. "If we don't have diplomatic relations, then foreign ministers don't meet. It cannot be otherwise."

Meanwhile, lawmakers, including parliamentary leaders, have more room for maneuver, she added.

Cmilyt-Nielsen herself visited Taiwan in October.

China downgraded its diplomatic representation with Lithuania in 2021 and imposed trade restrictions after Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under this island's name as

Beijing viewed this as Lithuania's support for Taiwan to act as an independent state.

China seeks to isolate Taipei on the world stage and avoids using the word "Taiwan" in any way to avoid giving the island international legitimacy.

During Wu's visit to Lithuania, Landsbergis announced that Lithuania was talking to Beijing about normalizing their relations.

"I think we are talking about the fact that trade relations remain (...), economic cooperation exists and there is no desire to somehow stop it. I think this is a rational position for Lithuania and I do not see any particular change in this case," Cmilyte-Nielsen said.

By Saulius Jakučionis

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Lithuania, Germany to sign brigade agreement next year – ministry

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS - Lithuania and Germany will sign an inter-state agreement on the deployment of the German brigade in the second half of next year, Lithuania's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

And the agreement will be submitted to the Seimas for ratification.

"The implementation plan for hosting the German brigade in Lithuania will be signed in December and will cover civil and military infrastructure. Therefore, it is very important to pool the joint efforts of all state institutions, including municipalities and the private sector, for the implementation of this plan," Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said.

Troops assigned to the German brigade will arrive in Lithuania gradually and the Baltic country will receive the first troops as early as 2024, and the entire German brigade is expected to be deployed by 2027.

The German troops will be based in Vilnius and Kaunas, but some logistical elements are planned in other parts of Lithuania.

Anusauskas says that one of the key tasks for hosting the German brigade is to agree on the civilian infrastructure, including all the necessary services for the families arriving with the soldiers. Also, Lithuania needs to strengthen transport services as roads, trains and planes will be important not only for the German troops stationed in Lithuania, but also for Lithuanian businesses, and that will be beneficial for Lithuania as a whole.

The German Defense Ministry announced last week that the core of its brigade in Lithuania would consist of two tank battalions, with a third battalion initially to be formed by the German-led NATO battalion battle group.

The brigade in Lithuania will be called Panzerbrigade 42. Its HQ is expected to move to Lithuania in the last quarter of 2024. Germany intends to deploy a total of around 4,000 troops in Lithuania.

Vilnius and Berlin started discussing the brigade's deployment in Lithuania to beef up regional security after Russia invaded Ukraine. The brigade's Forward Command Element is currently stationed in Lithuania.

Germany has been also leading an international NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania since 2017.

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Vilnius Airport operates normally again after bomb threat

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS - Vilnius Airport resumed normal operations on Wednesday following checks carried out after a bomb threat was received by telephone earlier in the day. No explosives were found.

"After a detailed inspection of the airport's premises and an assessment of the situation by the special services, operations are back to normal, passengers are allowed to enter the airport terminals again, and check-in for scheduled flights is underway," Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU), the airport operator in Lithuania, said.

The incident affected two scheduled flights to Helsinki and Warsaw that were delayed.

Vilnius Airport received an anonymous bomb threat on Wednesday morning and around 100 people were evacuated from the airport in response to the call.

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Lithuania, Germany to sign brigade agreement next year – ministry (expands)

(Updated version: updates throughout)

And the agreement will be submitted to the Seimas for ratification.

Thus agreement will define the legal, tax, employment and other conditions for German citizens to live in Lithuania, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says.

"There are many things that need to be defined in the agreement. (...) Despite the fact that the European Union is removing a lot of these limits, the bilateral agreement will allow defining more specific conditions, mainly related to the stay of civilians and military families in Lithuania," the minister told reporters on Wednesday at the Seimas after a closed-door meeting of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, adding that a meeting with German representatives is scheduled for December 19 when the plan on the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania will be signed.

The minister, however, refrained to specify what would be included in the plan, as negotiations are still ongoing.

"If we have civilians, we are talking about them living in a city, not in a village," the minister said.

The German troops will be based in Vilnius and Kaunas, but some logistical elements are planned in other parts of Lithuania.

The minister says it's not yet clear how much additional funding would be needed for the settlement of civilians in Lithuania.

For his part, Laurynas Kasciunas, chair of the CNSD, says there's also an ongoing discussion about the pre-deployment of weapons or ammunition for the German division.

"This may be a visionary idea, but it is extremely important. Then the arrival is faster, then we are even stronger, more capable, the deterrent effect is much stronger," he said.

The brigade in Lithuania will be called Panzerbrigade 42. Its HQ is expected to move to Lithuania in the last quarter of 2024. Germany intends to deploy a total of around 4,000 troops in Lithuania.

Germany has been also leading an international NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania since 2017.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Watchdog to probe Lithuanian president, UK ambassador's opera visit

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – The Chief Official Ethics Commission said on Wednesday it had decided to launch an investigation into the circumstances of President Gitanas Nauseda and Ambassador to the United Kingdom Eitvydas Bajaunas' visit to the Royal Opera House in London.

"COEC will assess whether the participation in this event was directly related to the performance of the president and the ambassador's official duties," the statement said.

The presidential office has refrained to comment the decision to open an investigation.

Matas Maldeikis, a member of the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats political group in the Seimas, turned to the ethics watchdog in October.

When Nauseda visited London last spring, Bajarunas invited him and his wife to see The Phantom of the Opera and bought the tickets with the embassy's money. The ambassador later claimed it was a misunderstanding that he corrected and paid for out of his own pocket.

However, the Foreign Ministry has information that the request to cover the expenses with personal funds was only made when the ministry started looking into the situation more than four months later.

Following complaints from embassy staff regarding Bajarunas' alleged misconduct, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis suspended the ambassador and summoned him to Vilnius for consultations in mid-October. Such a step was made after an investigation by the ministry's General Inspectorate.

The president called the decision half-hearted and called for an official investigation. The Foreign Ministry, however, argued that this is not foreseen by existing legislation.

Bajarunas has also asked for an independent investigation and says he's being psychologically abused by the ministry because his reputation is being damaged by information leaks related to the accusations against him.

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Lithuanian govt OKs plans to set up Coast Guard Frontier District

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved the Interior Ministry's proposal) to set up a Coast Guard Frontier District within the country's State Border Guard Service.

The new unit will operate in the border area along the state borders with Russia and Latvia, in the territorial waters and the Curonian Lagoon, in seaports, and within the territory of the international airport of Palanga.

"It is important for us to ensure more effective border protection. (...) The blue border, the sea border, has its own specifics," Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite told BNS on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard Frontier District will be established from the beginning of next year.

The Interior Ministry said earlier the Coast Guard Frontier District will have migration and criminal intelligence units and will ensure a more effective fight against smuggling and illegal migration.

It will also contribute to the protection of strategic facilities, including the Klaipeda LNG terminal, which is located within its area.

The Coast Guard Frontier District operated within the SBGS before it was merged into the Pagegiai Frontier District in early 2020. The Coast Guard Division was then set up within the Pagegiai district for the protection of the state border in the territorial sea and the Curonian Lagoon.

Lithuania shares a 255-kilometer land border with Russia, 18 kilometers along the Curonian Lagoon, and 22 kilometers along the Baltic Sea.

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Govt bans more dual-use goods from passing through Lithuania

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday updated the national list of controlled dual-use goods banned from being transported overland through Lithuania. The move comes in response to a increase in exports of goods from Lithuania to third countries last year and this year, with some of these goods ending up in Russia and Belarus.

"We are making every effort to reduce the technical capabilities of Russia and Belarus to conduct hostilities in Ukraine. Back in June, we restricted exports of dual-use items that are being exported to Central Asian countries via Lithuania, Belarus and Russia and that could be used for hostilities in Ukraine. As we see the need to reinforce our solutions, we are introducing additional restrictions," Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite was quoted as saying in a statement.

The government resolution specifies that the list will also include machining centers, metal turning, drilling, boring, milling, threading machines, optical and semiconductor media, manganese dioxide, lithium-ion galvanic cells and batteries, vehicles for transporting goods and barometers.

According to the ministry, these goods are used in the production of high explosive projectiles for tanks, which are then used in the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, galvanic cells and batteries are among the main components in the production of military UAVs.

In June, the Lithuanian government banned the overland transportation of 57 groups of dual-use goods through Lithuania, mainly products with microelectronic and semiconductor components.

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Prosecutor urges chair to step aside as Lithuanian parlt panel starts whistleblower probe

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis on Wednesday called on Vytautas Bakas, chairman of the Lithuanian parliament's temporary inquiry commission, to recuse himself, as the panel started looking into the actions of the State Security Department's top officials in vetting the inner circle of Gitanas Nauseda, then a presidential candidate, as claimed by a whistleblower.

According to Urbelis, Bakas, who chaired the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense (CNSD) in the previous term, was the first to read the whistleblower’s report but failed to share the material with the committee.

"It appears that the chairman wants to investigate himself. What impartiality can we talk about? We urge the commission's chairman to recuse himself so that the objectivity of the investigation is not called into question," the prosecutor said.

"This is about a conflict of interest and the impartial work of the commission," he added.

Prosecutors also want the commission to conduct its inquiry behind closed doors.

"We want to raise the issue of making all hearings closed, on the grounds that the security of the whistleblower and the protection of state secrets should be ensured," Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene told the commission on Wednesday.

Urbelis of the Prosecutor General's Office said that the commission will be dealing with secret or confidential information that cannot be discussed in public.

Bakas said that parliamentary inquiry commissions typically hold open meetings and suggested as a compromise that politicians should ask questions and prosecutors inform them if they cannot answer them due to confidentiality.

It was also agreed not the identify the whistleblower.

Urbelis also noted that the investigation might involve questioning Bakas, who was the first to receive information from the whistleblower.

The parliament in October set up the temporary inquiry commission to investigate the circumstances disclosed by the whistleblower.

The commission, which comprises mostly MPs from the ruling bloc, has until March 10 to present its findings.

Supporters of the investigation argue that the whistleblower's story has left unanswered questions, while opponents claim it would be directed against President Nauseda to undermine his popularity in the run-up to next year's presidential election.

The initiative to set up the commission came after the Prosecutor General's Office stated last spring that the report submitted by the whistleblower, then an intelligence officer, to Bakas, the then CNSD chairman, in 2019 had not been properly examined.

In his report, the SSD officer complained about his superiors' allegedly unlawful actions.

New details about this case emerged in a book by journalists Dovydas Pancerovas and Birute Davidonyte, titled The Whistleblower and the President.

The former SSD officer told the journalists that in July 2018, he received several sheets of paper with many names and a verbal instruction from Remigijus Bridikis, the intelligence agency's deputy director, "to vet the electoral team of one candidate and the list of possible supporters".

It turned out that the list contained the names of supporters and associates of the then-presidential candidate Nauseda.

Having looked into the situation at the time, the CNSD stated that the SSD had acted lawfully in vetting people close to the presidential candidates, but urged refraining from verbal instructions in such situations.

While SSD officials said that all presidential candidates' teams had been vetted, the whistleblower claimed that only Nauseda's team had been subjected to checks and that Bridikis confirmed to him that the lists had been obtained from Nauseda.

The president categorically denies having asked the SSD to vet his team.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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Lithuanian troops take part in exercise in Germany

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – Lithuania's Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade is taking part in the Schneller Degen 2023 (Rapid Sword) exercise in Germany, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said on Wednesday.

The exercise, which started on Monday and will run until November 29, will see the Lithuanian troops training along with more than 2,000 troops from 14 NATO and partner nations to plan defense and offensive operations.

Schneller Degen 2023 is this year's most significant staff exercise for the Iron Wolf Brigade.

The international command element exercise is organized annually by the German Armed Forces.

The Iron Wolf Brigade, which has been assigned to Germany's 10th Panzer Division for training purposes since 2018, participates in the exercise annually.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, November 16, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 15, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, November 16, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend the BIO CITY construction launch event in Vilnius at 10 a.m.

THE SEIMAS' plenary sittings to start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A joint commission of the Seimas and the Lithuanian World Community to hold meetings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to participate in the so-called "government hour" at the Seimas at noon; to meet with Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SK Group, at 4 p.m.

HEALTH MINISTER Arunas Dulkys to pay a working visit to the US.

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Nov 20 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Land cable might replace Harmony Link submarine cable – sources
Lithuania's Litgrid, Poland's PSE mull installing onshore cable instead of Harmony Link
Lithuanian ambassador disregarded instructions at NATO summit, but no sanction proposed
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, November 13, 2023
Lithuanian president to meet with German president, chancellor in Berlin
Lithuanian formin to attend the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council
20 irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuanian Zoo in Kaunas opens after major reconstruction
Lithuania reports 47 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Lithuania's MigDep asks to assess Liepa's statements on war, Putin
Lithuanian Democrats' presidential candidate favors at least 3 pct of GDP for defense
Lithuanian defmin meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky
Lithuanian formin says EU's new Russia sanctions package 'quite optimistic'
Lithuania's Litgrid, Poland's PSE mull installing onshore cable instead of Harmony Link (expands)
SocDems, HU-LCD top party ratings in Lithuania – survey
Lithuania nominates 3 candidates for ECHR judge
Lithuanian foreign minister targeted by information attack
Lithuania's Druskininkai plans to build "sea under roof"
NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 4 times over Russian aircraft last week
Lithuania's InterMin asks SSD to check 800 foreigners with citizenship given by exception
Lithuania's priority in intl missions is to train Ukrainian troops – defense chief
InterMin tasks MigDep to initiate proceedings to strip Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship
Lithuania's need for tanks remains despite German decision – army chief
Joint Lithuanian, German SOF exercise held in Vilnius
EP election in Lithuania proposed for June 9
Lithuania ranks 9th in global AML, terrorist financing risk ranking
Lithuanian parlt speaker discusses aid to Ukraine with Pope Francis
Lithuanian ambassador disregarded instructions at NATO summit, but no sanction proposed (expands)
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Land cable might replace Harmony Link submarine cable – sources

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – A land cable might be installed between Lithuania and Poland instead of the planned Harmony Link offshore power cable between Poland and Lithuania, the most expensive and largest project that is part of the wide plan to synchronize the Baltic electricity grids with continental Europe, four sources have confirmed to BNS.

Such an alternative could allow having a commercially important electricity link put in place earlier than 2030 and it would be much cheaper to do.

However, such an alternative would require a political agreement between Vilnius and Warsaw and the approval of the European Commission.

The search for a new solution for Harmony Link are not believed to be linked to the incidents in the Baltic Sea in early October when a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia were damaged.

The search for a cheaper alternative became relevant after contractors' bids for Harmony Link exceeded the 680 million euros budget planned by the Lithuanian and Polish TSOs, Litgrid and PSE, almost 2.5 times, which led to the cancellation of the planned tenders last spring as the TSOs decided against increasing the project's budget, and also agreed to split future tenders and negotiate with the EC on additional funding.

Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis earlier told BNS that the Harmony Link HVDC cable would not be completed until the beginning of next decade after it was initially scheduled to be put in place by 2025 and then delayed until 2027-2028.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys has recently told BNS that the project could be accelerated by expected "good news" from Brussels.

In the contract signed in May 2020, PSE and Litgrid split the work on the project worth around 680 million euros, with Litgrid responsible for the installation of the HVDC cable in the Baltic Sea, and PSE responsible for the construction of the converter stations in Lithuania and Poland.

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuania's Litgrid, Poland's PSE mull installing onshore cable instead of Harmony Link

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – The Lithuanian and Polish electricity transmission systems operators, Litgrid and PSE, are looking into installing an onshore cable instead of the planned Harmony Link offshore power cable between Poland and Lithuania, the most expensive and largest project that is part of the wide plan to synchronize the Baltic electricity grids with continental Europe, Litgrid officially confirmed on Monday.

Earlier in the day, BNS reported about that, citing four sources.

Such an alternative could allow having a commercially important electricity link put in place earlier than 2030 and it would be much cheaper to do. However, such an alternative would require a political agreement between Vilnius and Warsaw and the approval of the European Commission.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys has recently told BNS that the project could be accelerated by expected "good news" from Brussels.

"I don't want to go into details right now, but we are currently talking with the European Commission about various things. Really very intense work is ongoing and I think that probably in one or two months there will be very significant and good news in this area, which might even allow us to say that the interconnection between Poland and Lithuania will be in place by 2028," Kreivys said in an interview to BNS.

Under the contract signed in May 2020, PSE and Litgrid split the work on the project worth around 680 million euros, with Litgrid responsible for the installation of the HVDC cable in the Baltic Sea, and PSE responsible for the construction of the converter stations in Lithuania and Poland.

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian ambassador disregarded instructions at NATO summit, but no sanction proposed

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania's Ambassador to NATO Deividas Matulionis committed official misconduct when he failed to follow instructions during the Alliance's summit in Vilnius, a Foreign Ministry commission found after a probe, but decided not to recommend any disciplinary sanction on the diplomat.

The commission established that Matulionis "committed official misconduct and failed to follow the ministry's instructions", the Foreign Ministry told BNS on Monday.

"However, in the context of the outcome of the NATO summit, it is difficult to assess the damage caused to the state and therefore the commission does not propose to impose any sanction," it added.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, November 13, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Monday, November 13, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to pay a working visit to Germany.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to attend an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

THE ARMY

The Lithuanian army's Special Operations Forces and NATO allies to hold an exercise at the Vilnius combined heat and power plant at 11 a.m.

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Lithuanian president to meet with German president, chancellor in Berlin

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is going to Berlin on Monday to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"During the talks between the Lithuanian and German heads of state, topics to be discussed will include bilateral relations, regional security and defense issues, the deployment of the planned German brigade in Lithuania, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East," the presidential press service said.

Lithuania and Germany started discussing the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania to strengthen regional security after Russia invaded Ukraine. The brigade's Forward Command Element is currently deployed in Lithuania.

Earlier in November, the German Defense Ministry said the core of the German brigade in Lithuania would consist of two tank battalions, with a third battalion initially consisting of a German-led NATO Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group.

Vilnius plans that the bulk of troops will be deployed in 2026.

During his visit to Germany, Nauseda will take part in a working session organized by Scholz European Council President Charles Michel to discuss the priorities of the EU strategic agenda.

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Lithuanian formin to attend the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis will attend a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday, held to discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the latest developments concerning Armenia and Azerbaijan, the situation in Israel and the region, as well as the foreign policy dimension of economic security, the Foreign Ministry said.

After the European Commission adopted its 2023 Enlargement Package of November 8, the Council will discuss further steps towards Ukraine’s EU integration.

The European Union's executive body on Wednesday recommended that member states open formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia.

Moreover, EU measures to strengthen economic and cyber security and counter disinformation will also be discussed.

On November 13, EU ministers will participate in the EU-Western Balkans ministerial meeting after the Council.

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20 irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 20 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

Latvia reported 29 attempts at illegal border crossings on Sunday, and 16 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Saturday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 2,322 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

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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Lithuanian Zoo in Kaunas opens after major reconstruction

KAUNAS, Lithuania, Nov 13, BNS - The Lithuanian Zoo in the country's second-largest city of Kaunas opens to the public on Monday after more than two years of renovation.

At the opening ceremony, visitors will be able to see new animals that have arrived at the zoo for the first time.

"I'm sure you've heard about the rhinos as they've been here for a month, and they're really getting used to it. We also have an anteater and the zoo has never had one before. We also have mongoose, damans, various reptiles, birds, cheetahs", Gintare Stankevice, director of the Lithuanian Zoo, said.

The reconstruction covered 80 percent of the zoo and involved the improvement of housing conditions for animals, the construction of seven new buildings, the renovation of the old ones, the refurbishment of the animal enclosures, and the installation of new spaces for visitors and staff. Also the pathways have been tidied up, playgrounds for children have been put in place, and the zoo now has an exotarium with an educational center, and an observation tower with an elevator.

The Lithuanian Zoo has animals of 149 species, more than 50 of which are protected. The number of protected species is set to increase over the next five years.

The Lithuanian Zoo has not undergone major renovation since opening in 1938. The renovation has cost 24 million euros.

By Austėja Masiokaitė-Liubinienė

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Lithuania reports 47 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 47 new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Monday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 223.8 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 33.2 percent.

COVID-19 incidence in Lithuania took an upward turn in mid-September after having stayed at a low level since May.

Some 68.5 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

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Lithuania's MigDep asks to assess Liepa's statements on war, Putin

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania's Migration Department has asked the competent authorities to assess the recent statements made by Ilze Liepa, a Latvian-born ballet dancer who also has Lithuanian citizenship, about the war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"On Friday, the Migration Department sent inquiries to the country's competent authorities, asking them to assess Ilze Liepa's public statements," the Migration Department told BNS on Monday.

If it is established that Liepa's actions pose a threat to national security, the Migration Department will propose to the Interior Ministry to ask the president to strip her of Lithuanian citizenship.

According to the Law on Citizenship, a person is deprived of their Lithuanian citizenship acquired by way of exception if their actions threaten the security interests of Lithuania, if they publicly express their support for a state that threatens the security interests of Lithuania or other European Union member states, or their allies.

In accordance with this provision, President Gitanas Nauseda has recently stripped Russian ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship after she and her Lithuanian husband Povilas Vanagas took part in projects organized by the wife of the Russian president's spokesman.

In an interview with Russian media, Liepa, who holds both Lithuanian and Russian citizenship, condemned the Baltic states for their behavior and expressed her support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's started war in Ukraine, Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT reported on Sunday.

"I have no doubt about what our president says. And while one side says we are brainwashed by the Kremlin, it is everyone's choice. It seems to me that we now understand exactly what it is – a clash of our fundamental values. Unfortunately, Ukraine has become like a fungible currency, and I am very sorry about that," Liepa said.

"I am very ashamed of them (the Baltic states - BNS) and very sad (...). We understand that, unfortunately, the people are being held hostage by a small group of people. We are extremely lucky to have a leader like Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who serves his homeland, who is faithful to his duty," Liepa replied to a question about the destruction of Soviet monuments in the Baltic states and the restriction of Russian culture.

A daughter of the Soviet-era Latvian ballet dancer Maris Liepa, Ilze Liepa was granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception in 2000. It was stated at the time that the Moscow Bolshoi Theater soloist had been granted citizenship for dancing with Lithuanian ballet dancer Peter Skirmantas for more than a decade.

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Lithuanian Democrats' presidential candidate favors at least 3 pct of GDP for defense

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official named by the opposition Democratic Union "For Lithuania" as its presidential candidate on Saturday, believes that Lithuania should spend at least 3 percent of GDP on defense.

"Three percent is definitely the minimum," he told reporters in Vilnius on Saturday.

According to Jeglinskas, the defense budget's growth should be financed through sustainable sources.

"We are in a geographical location where we have adversaries, and the aggressor is just around the corner," he said.

The presidential candidate also said that he supports universal conscription into the military service.

Jeglinskas, a former deputy defense minister and NATO assistant secretary general, said that Gitanas Nauseda, the current president, is responsible for the lack of unity in Lithuania's foreign policy and the inability to make key decisions in the parliament or government.

Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democratic Union "For Lithuania", did not seek his party's nomination as candidate for next May's presidential election.

Skvernelis told reporters on Saturday that Lithuania currently needs someone who "has real knowledge of the country's defense and security and real military experience".

He emphasized that Jeglinskas has a good education and speaks five foreign languages, making him the "best candidate at this geopolitical stage, when Lithuania is not very safe."

The party's leader said he hopes that although he party's candidate is not well-known to the general public; people will appreciate his competence to serve as president.

By Saulius Jakučionis, Austėja Masiokaitė-Liubinienė

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Lithuanian defmin meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday and briefed him on Lithuania's current military assistance and further support plans, the Defense Ministry says, adding that possibilities to jointly develop various defense industry projects were discussed during the meeting.

"Today, I met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv. We discussed military support and further support plans following the transfer of the NASAMS medium-range air defense system, as well as the demining coalition and possibilities to jointly develop various defense industry projects," Anusauskas posted on Facebook.

Earlier in the day, Lithuania handed over launchers and necessary equipment for the NASAMS medium-range air defense systems to Ukraine.

Before the launchers were handed over to Ukrainian troops, they underwent comprehensive driving and repair training in Norway, the ministry added.

Together with the NASAMS launchers, Lithuania has also provided all-terrain vehicles needed for NASAMS crews. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense contributed to this Lithuanian support by giving Ukraine additional support equipment necessary and Fire Distribution Centers for NASAMS launchers.

According to the Defense Ministry, the total value of Lithuania's military assistance to Ukraine stands around 500 million euros. The next planned Lithuanian military assistance includes grenade launcher ammunition, logistic vehicles and various types of equipment for the winter season.

By Ingrida Steniulienė

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Lithuanian formin says EU's new Russia sanctions package 'quite optimistic'

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Monday that the EU's new sanctions package against Russia is "pretty good" and makes him "quite optimistic".

"At least from the excerpts I've seen, I'm quite optimistic," he said before the EU Foreign Affairs Council's meeting.

The minister believes that as political discussions on the latest sanctions begin, the final version will "most likely be weaker."

"However, given that considerable time has passed since the last package, it's a pretty good package," he added.

According to Landsbergis, the 12th package of sanctions against Russia covers a number of areas.

"It includes individual sanctions, sectoral sanctions, and sanctions against specific companies," he said.

The EU adopted its 11th package in June, aimed at closing the loopholes for circumventing the existing sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

The bloc then blacklisted a further 87 entities that directly support Russia's military-industrial complex, subjecting them to stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and advanced technologies.

In mid-October, Poland submitted to the European Commission a proposal for a 12th package of sanctions against Russia. The proposal includes sanctions on Russian diamonds and restrictive measures targeting a broader range of individuals and entities.

Poland's proposal also calls for a ban on the import of liquefied petroleum gas from Russia and the use of Russian information and communication technology services.

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Lithuania's Litgrid, Poland's PSE mull installing onshore cable instead of Harmony Link (expands)

(Updated version: updates throughout)

Earlier in the day, BNS reported about that, citing four sources.

"One of the alternatives the TSOs are looking into is an onshore cable. According to Litgrid's initial assessment, this alternative would reduce the project's budget and allow it to be implemented more quickly," Litgrid said in a statement, adding that an onshore cable would allow using part of the infrastructure of the planned Rail Baltica railway route between Poland and Lithuania.

Nevertheless, Litgrid and PSE are also considering various alternatives to the planned electricity link between Lithuania and Poland, both onshore and offshore, the Lithuanian TSO said.

The two companies are reportedly making preliminary assessments of alternatives, and a decision on the specific route is expected in the first half of 2024.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys has recently told BNS that the project could be accelerated by expected "good news" from Brussels.

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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SocDems, HU-LCD top party ratings in Lithuania – survey

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS - The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party continues to lead in the political party ratings, followed by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, according to a new Spinter Tyrimai poll for the delfi.lt news website, carried out in October and published on Monday.

15.5 percent supported the LSDP in October, while 10.5 per cent backed the HU-LCD, compared to 13.5 and 9.1 percent respectively in September.

The Liberal Movement, part of the ruling block, comes in third with 7.4 percent, from 7.5 percent in September, followed by the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Grees Union with 6.5 percent, from 5.6 percent a month earlier.

The opposition Democrats "For Lithuania" enjoyed the support of 5.5 percent last month, up from 5.3 percent in September.

The Freedom Party, another member of the ruling coalition, is next in the political party rankings with 3.5 percent in October, up from 3.4 percent in September.

When asked to name the politician they thought would be the best prime minister, 8.2 percent mentioned LSDP leader Vilija Blinkeviciute, up from 6.8 percent in September.

Incumbent Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte came in second with 8 percent, down from 10.9 percent in September.

65.8 percent of respondents rated the government's performance more or less negatively in October, compared to 67 percent in September.

The poll of 1,011 people was carried out on October 17-28, with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

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Lithuania nominates 3 candidates for ECHR judge

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania is nominating Professor Lyra Jakuleviciene of Mykolas Romeris University, Children's Rights Ombudsperson Edita Ziobiene, and Judge Gediminas Sagatys of the Supreme Court for the position of judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Justice Ministry said on Monday.

One of the three candidates will be elected as an ECHR judge by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Lithuania's candidates for the ECHR judges are nominated by the government with the approval of the president and after consulting the parliament.

The Justice Ministry said nine candidates had applied for the nomination.

Lithuania's list of three candidates has yet to be assessed by an advisory panel of experts. Also, the candidates will be interviewed by the Committee on the Election of Judges before the PACE vote.

The new judge representing Lithuania will replace outgoing Judge Egidijus Kuris.

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Lithuanian foreign minister targeted by information attack

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – In an information attack against Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, a fake audio recording of Lithuania's top diplomat talking to his Palestinian counterpart on the phone and saying that he will run for presidency next May is circulating online.

Debunk.org, a disinformation analysis center, has told BNS that the recording was generated using artificial intelligence tools. Its authenticity has also been denied by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

In the fake audio, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki "asks" for Lithuanian support for Palestinians living in Gaza and for a humanitarian pause in Israeli attacks.

Landsbergis "replies" that he cannot support Palestine, because his move would draw opposition in Lithuania and raise eyebrows in the EU.

"I won't do this just because you asked me to. Especially given that I intend to run in next year's Lithuanian presidential elections," says the voice purported to be that of the Lithuanian minister.

Al-Maliki "replies" that he can back Landsbergis' "political ambition" in exchange for his support for Palestine.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry says the audio recording "does not correspond to reality".

"Minister Landsbergis has not spoken on the phone with the Palestinian minister this year. The Foreign Ministry considers the information disseminated to be an information attack," it said in a comment.

Viktoras Dauksas, head of Debunk.org, also says that the audio recording is a fake generated using AI.

"The recording includes unnatural accelerations and decelerations," he said. "There are also artificially generated unnatural background noises."

Dauksas noted that the recording is being circulated via recently created social media accounts that were previously inactive.

"In terms of risk, this is a very dangerous phenomenon, especially given the upcoming elections. In the context of elections, such manipulations can cause a lot of uproar," the disinformation analysis expert said.

"That was the aim of this audio recording, but it was clearly not achieved," he added.

The expert noted that there might be more such cases in the future with the aim of manipulating the results of Lithuanian elections.

Lithuania is scheduled to hold the next presidential election in May 2024.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuania's Druskininkai plans to build "sea under roof"

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania's southern resort town of Druskininkai plans to build an indoor sea wave pool, known as an "artificial sea" or "sea under the roof", for tens of millions of euros.

The new pool would be situated next to the Snow Arena winter entertainment complex.

Speaking with BNS, Druskininkai Mayor Ricardas Malinauskas said the construction was expected to start in 2024 and would last at least three to four years. The installation of the "sea under the roof" would cost "tens of millions" of euros.

According to the mayor, it would be the only year-round sea wave pool in Europe. Preliminary estimates suggest that at least 5,000 people would be able to visit the pool at the same time.

The project will be implemented by Druskininkai Health and Recreation Center AQUA and be paid with borrowed funds, Malinauskas said.

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius, Goda Vileikytė

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NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 4 times over Russian aircraft last week

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – NATO's fighter jets policing Baltic airspace were last week scrambled four times to identify and escort Russian aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea in violation of flight rules, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

NATO's jets intercepted an IL-76 transport plane on November 7, an IL-20 attack aircraft on November 9, and two aircraft – an IL-20 and an AN-72 transport plane – on November 10.

Most of the Russian aircraft were transiting international airspace en route from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad exclave.

Most of them had no pre-filed flight plans and some were not using their onboard transponders. The Russian aircraft were in radio contact with the Regional Traffic Control Center.

The NATO Baltic air policing mission is carried out from air bases in Lithuania and Estonia.

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Lithuania's InterMin asks SSD to check 800 foreigners with citizenship given by exception

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania's Interior Ministry on Monday asked the country's State Security Department to check 800 foreigners who have Lithuanian citizenship granted by way of exception.

"Having assessed the situation, journalists' investigation and having identified inappropriate actions of this particular citizen, we today asked the SSD to check them again, namely those 800 persons under the criterion of threat to national security, as well as under the criterion of support for the actions of the aggressor state," Interior Vice Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius told reporters on Monday.

The move comes after Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT reporter on Sunday that Ilze Liepa, a Latvian-born ballet dancer who also has Lithuanian citizenship, slammed the Baltic states for the actions and expressed support to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Interior Ministry tasked the Migration Department to initiated proceedings for stripping Liepa of her Lithuanian citizenship, and the department has also turned to the country's competent authorities, asking them to assess Ilze Liepa's public statements about the war in Ukraine and the Russian president.

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Lithuania's priority in intl missions is to train Ukrainian troops – defense chief

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania is set to maintain its focus on missions to train Ukrainian troops when making decisions on sending its military personnel to international operations next year, Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys said on Monday.

"The main focus of international missions now is on assisting Ukraine. We are taking part in at least two major projects: the UK-led mission for training Ukrainians and that of the European Union," Rupsys told reporters.

"We have clear plans to continue to contribute," he added.

The mandate for international operations and standby missions in 2024-2025 will include more missions in support of Ukraine, according to Rupsys.

"When it comes to a broader geographical context, we plan to continue participating in Operation Atalanta in the Mediterranean," the general said.

"There are also other operations under consideration that may require our contribution in other geographical areas," he said. "I don't want to discuss specifics at the moment; we have decided to analyze and present information."

Rupsys did not rule out that Special Operations Forces personnel might be sent again to international missions.

The mandate for next year's missions was discussed last week by the president-chaired State Defense Council.

The Defense Ministry says 60 troops are currently serving in international missions, noting that their number has been decreased in recent years.

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InterMin tasks MigDep to initiate proceedings to strip Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Lithuania's Interior Ministry has tasked the country's Migration Department to initiate proceedings to strip Ilze Liepa, a Russian ballet dancer with Latvian roots, of her Lithuanian citizenship granted by way of exception.

"Ilze Liepa's public statements are seen as discrediting the state," the ministry said in a statement sent to BNS on Monday.

The Migration Department has also turned to the competent authorities, asking them to assess Liepa's recent statements about the war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"On Friday, the Migration Department sent inquiries to the country's competent authorities, asking them to assess Ilze Liepa's public statements," the Migration Department told BNS on Monday.

Regarding Liepa's citizenship, Nauseda is awaiting the relevant referral from the Interior Ministry and proposals of the Citizenship Commission.

"The president will make a decision as soon as he receives the conclusion of the Citizenship Commission," the presidential office told BNS.

The president also urged the Interior Ministry on Monday check 800 foreigners who have been granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception and are also citizens of other countries in terms of their compliance with the Law on Citizenship. The Interior Ministry said on Monday it had asked the State Security Department to do that.

In her recent interview with Russian media, Liepa, who holds both Lithuanian and Russian citizenship, condemned the Baltic states for their behavior and expressed her support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's started war in Ukraine, Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT reported on Sunday.

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Lithuania's need for tanks remains despite German decision – army chief

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS - Despite Germany's decision to have a tank battalion within the planned German brigade to be deployed in Lithuania, Lithuania's own need for this military equipment remains, Chief of Defense Valdemaras Rupsys says.

"Lithuania's need for tanks and other heavy weapons has not gone anywhere," the general told reporters in Vilnius on Monday. "Without tanks, we could only close ourselves off in a trench, because we would not be able to carry out maneuver defense."

He was speaking after Berlin announced that the core of the planned German brigade to be deployed in Lithuania would consist of tank and mechanized infantry battalions. The third maneuver battalion would initially consist of a German-led NATO battalion battle group already in Lithuania.

"An artillery battalion with self-propelled howitzers, communications and headquarters units, air defense units, reconnaissance units, and a logistics battalion will be deployed alongside the two battalions," the army chief said.

In total, the plan is to have more than 5,000 German troops deployed in Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Lithuania aims to create an army division by 2030, and it would include a tank battalion.

Next year's draft budget includes more than 2 billion euros in defense funding, which is around 2.71 percent of the country's GDP. However, part of this will come from the existing temporary bank solidarity levy. Some politicians, including the president, criticize the government and say there are no funds for the planned creation of a division.

Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says strengthening of the existing capabilities is also linked to the creation of the planned division that will be based on them.

For his part, Rupsys refrained to comment on this issue in detail on Monday.

"I make a recommendation, identify a need, and politicians decide whether to fund it or not. If we see that the funding is insufficient, we will have to limit our needs," Rupsys said. "I don't want to speak for politicians. The need has been identified. This is a complex issue, but the army will always be short of money."

Lithuania has approached Germany about the possible purchase of Leopard tanks.

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Joint Lithuanian, German SOF exercise held in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – A joint exercises involving the Lithuanian and German Special Operations Forces was held in Vilnius on Monday as troops trained to storm critical infrastructure, Third Thermal Power Plant (TE-3), occupied by hostile forces

"Several teams stormed the facility. Above, one team arrived on helicopters and entered the building through he roof. Another team moved on the ground and entered from the bottom," an SOP soldier said on condition of anonymity, adding that interaction with the German troops was successful "synchronized, timely and efficient".

The exercise involved snipers, military dog handlers, SOF and Airbus H145 helicopters.

The exercise started on October 30 and will continue until November 10.

Germany is now leading a multinational NATO battalion in Lithuania and plans to deployed a brigade in Lithuania over the upcoming years.

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EP election in Lithuania proposed for June 9

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – The European Parliament election in Lithuania is proposed for June 9, according to a draft resolution registered by Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, expected to be submitted to the Seimas for consideration on Tuesday.

The Council of the European Union has confirmed that European Parliament elections in EU member states will be held on June 6-9, 2024.

According to the Electoral Code, EP elections in Lithuania are held on the Sunday during the same EP election period in all EU member states.

EP elections are announced and their dates are set by the Seimas no later than six months before the Sunday in question.

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Lithuania ranks 9th in global AML, terrorist financing risk ranking

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS - Lithuania has dropped one notch down in the global AML and terrorist financing risk ranking this year and is ninth among 152 countries with 3.47 points (3.43 points in 2022), according to the Swiss-based Basel Institute of Governance.

In the EU and Western Europe group, Lithuania dropped from the seventh to eighth place among 34 countries this year, according to the 2023 Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index report.

Latvia is ranked 21st globally with a score of 4 points (18th in 2022, 3.96 points) and 17th in Europe (15th). Estonia is ranked third in both the European and global rankings with 3 points (it was not ranked in 2022 due to insufficient data for the assessment).

Iceland (2.87 points) and Finland (2.96 points) top both global and EU-Western Europe ranking, and Bulgaria is at the bottom in Europe with 5.16 points and is 78th worldwide.

Lithuania reached her highest position in 2018 when it scored 3.12 and was third in the world and Europe. Estonia was then ranked second (2.73 points) and Latvia 13th (3.98 points). 129 countries were assessed in 2018.

The Basel AML Index is an independent annual ranking that assesses the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing worldwide. It has been published since 2012 and includes data from 17 publicly available information sources such as the Financial Action Task Force, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.

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Lithuanian parlt speaker discusses aid to Ukraine with Pope Francis

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Seimas, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday to discuss relations between Lithuania and the Holy See, the role of the Catholic Church, and aid to Ukrainian war refugees, the parliament's press office said.

"Grateful for the audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. His call to end war resonates deeply. Lithuania values the Holy See's support, prayers for Ukraine, and aid to war refugees. Let's unite for a world free from aggression," Cmilyte-Nielsen posted on the X social media platform after the meeting.

She said in a press release that "recently, Pope Francis transferred 100,000 euros to Caritas Lithuania for the needs of refugees".

The parliamentary speaker underlined Lithuania's call on the international community to support President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan.

"If Ukraine does not win, war may come to Lithuania one day," she warned.

During the meeting, the speaker said that Lithuania and the Holy See have a special relationship, with one of the most significant moments illustrating the Vatican's support for the country being its non-recognition of Soviet occupation and its role in the fall of the regime, according to the press release.

"Our people saw the Pope's visit in 2018 as an exceptional sign of support for Lithuania on the occasion of our 100th anniversary of statehood restoration," said Cmilyte-Nielsen.

"Last year, we celebrated the centenary of the Holy See's de jure recognition of Lithuania, an important occasion that strengthened the ties between our nation and the Catholic Church," she added.

On Sunday, Cmilyte-Nielsen attended a reception to mark the Feast of St. Josaphat.

The speaker of the Seimas also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state.

She was also scheduled to meet with Riccardo Paterno di Montecupo, Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, and to visit the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and the Lithuanian chapel in Rome's Campo Verano Cemetery.

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Lithuanian ambassador disregarded instructions at NATO summit, but no sanction proposed (expands)

The commission established that Matulionis "committed official misconduct and failed to follow the ministry's instructions", the Foreign Ministry told BNS on Monday.

"However, in the context of the outcome of the NATO summit, it is difficult to assess the damage caused to the state and therefore the commission does not propose to impose any sanction," it added.

The diplomat did not comment on the situation to BNS on Monday.

The Delfi news website reported in August that the investigation had been launched due to concerns that the diplomat might have failed to adhere to the mandate given by the state authorities, potentially weakening Lithuania's negotiating position during the talks on the Vilnius summit's documents.

According to Delfi, the probe centered around Matulionis' actions during the negotiations on the NATO communiqué and the wording on the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania.

President Gitanas Nauseda has said that he has confidence in the ambassador, emphasizing the complexity of the talks during the NATO summit in Vilnius.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, November 14, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 13, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, November 14, 2023:

THE SEIMAS' plenary sittings to start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A joint commission of the Seimas and the Lithuanian World Community to hold meetings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND SPORT MINISTER Gintautas Jakstas to meet with Cornelius Zimmermann, Germany's ambassador to Lithuania, at 3 p.m.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to take part in meetings in Brussels.

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Nov 15 2023

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