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Weekly News from Lithuania, August 30

		Linas Linkevicius @LinkeviciusL

Full class is back to school! An informal meeting of foreign ministers #Gymnich in Helsinki today & lots of importa… https://t.co/0ceY3qzPuA

3:04 PM - Aug 29, 2019

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POLITICS

Meeting between Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Linas Linkevičius and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó in Šiauliai Air Base | #WeAreNato | Credits @ URM

Lithuanians living in Venezuela are welcome in their homeland

As the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela develops, the Government, acting pursuant to the Law on the Relocation of Persons to the Republic of Lithuania which came into force on 1 June 2019, approved the start and financing of the process of relocation specified therein.

'The Government takes care of the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and families of Lithuanian descent which need Government's assistance to their return to Lithuania. Our fellow countrymen who live in Venezuela threatened by political, economic and humanitarian crisis will have the possibility to settle in Lithuania. Law on the Relocation of Persons to the Republic of Lithuania adopted in June and initiated by the Government will enable the provision of a wide range of support, including financial support. Thus you are welcome in your homeland', said the Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.

On 26 August at Šiauliai Air Base, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, who is visiting Hungarian troops in Lithuania. The Foreign Ministers discussed regional security, items on the European agenda, the situation in Ukraine, the relationship with Russia, bilateral and other issues.

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Minister L. Linkevičius: Lithuania supports EU's credible enlargement policy based on case-by-case approach

On 29-30 August, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius attended the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of EU member states (Gymnich) in Finland. The meeting focused on the situation in the Persian Gulf, the EU regional cooperation with the Western Balkans, and the EU policy for the Arctic.

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

		Virginijus Sinkevičius @VSinkevicius

Innovation Week 2019 will rock #Lithuania on 16-22 September! Glad to see Panevėžys and Tauragė joining… https://t.co/aGPDYn117p

10:54 AM - Aug 26, 2019

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Global Digital Quality of Life study revealed: Lithuania 23rd

Privacy company Surfshark introduced the Digital Quality of Life (DQL) study that highlights gaps between people's online experiences in various societies. The final DQL index compares countries by various digital factors such as the internet speed, country’s cybersecurity, the availability of e-government services and more. Country with the highest DQL index score in 2019 is Australia, followed by France and Singapore.

The Board of the Bank of Lithuania issued two electronic money institution licences to SumUp EU Payments UAB and Goopal Pay, UAB. The licensed companies will be able to offer electronic money issuance (redemption) and certain payment services.

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Joint statement on so-called “presidential elections” in Abkhazia

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States of America do not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called ‘presidential elections’ held in Georgia’s Abkhazia region by the de facto authorities in Sokhumi on August 25, 2019, and will not acknowledge their outcome. Similarly, we do not recognize the legitimacy or outcome of the so-called ‘parliamentary elections’ held in Georgia’s South Ossetia/Tskhinvali region on June 9, 2019.

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Cinema under the Stars at the palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania | Credits @ Go Vilnius

CULTURE & HISTORY

Lithuanian photographer Kamilė Kaveckaitė listed in the Adobe Photography TOP10 rising stars
Credits @ Kamilė Kaveckaitė

Vilnius Muslim community to build a mosque

The Sunni community of Vilnius plan to build a small mosque, the 15min.lt news website reports.

Lithuania's National Land Service has given the Vilnius Sunni religious community the right to use a 8,4000-square-metre land plot free of charge for a mosque in the Liepkalnis area of Vilnius.

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The Walls Remember, the People Tell

As part of the 20th annual European Day of Jewish Culture, the Lithuanian Jewish Community invites the public to visit the former Jewish Quarter of Vilnius. Recently several frescoes appeared on the walls there. The creators will lead a tour and talk about their surprising project The Walls Remember on September 1.

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August 30 - September 1

Vilnius City Fiesta 2019

Celebrate together with Vilnius at the biggest festival filled with music, good food, culture and a great atmosphere. Greet the autumn season with live concerts, exceptional shows, and a fair in the heart of the city, on Gediminas Avenue. Get ready for some action, adventures, and creative ideas.

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September 2 - 8

New Circus Weekend'19

Escape everyday life and jump into a world of fantasies, illusions, and almost limitless possibilities. The circus can be completely different; see for yourself. The performances of troupes from all over the world will surprise and impress.

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September 6

Fluxus Festival 2019

Fluxus Festival invites to a variety of artistic experiences across Kaunas, with climbing Parodos Hill in Fluxus style at midnight, or opening of a new exhibition.

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Ancient Crafts Festival in Trakai
Credits @ Go Vilnius

GLOBAL LITHUANIA

		Marius Janukonis @MJanukonis

Events on rooftops are rare for diplomats. Happy to inaugurate solar panels at @LTembassyUA w/participation of Žygi… https://t.co/nGzI42oQXC

4:23 PM - Aug 28, 2019

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Highlight of the Week

Saab Gripen aircraft at Šiauliai International Airport

Šiauliai, Lithuania, 2019 August 27
Photo credits @ Jurijus Azanovas

Sep 03 2019

Weekly News from Lithuania, August 23

Remembering the Baltic Way

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

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POLITICS

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

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

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

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		Linas Linkevicius @LinkeviciusL

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

11:59 AM - Aug 19, 2019

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

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

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

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

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

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

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

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

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

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