LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 278, 2024
2. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
3. Lithuanian president says he'd veto budget with less than 3 pct of GDP for defense
4. Lithuanian president thinks Simonyte might not get support to continue as PM
5. Special operations forces hold demonstration drill at Lithuania's Elektrenai power plant
6. Russia's actions need legal assessment, collective response – aide
7. Lithuanian formin calls of swifter EU decisions on Russian assets for Ukraine's defense
8. Air attack drill held at Lithuanian parliament 
9. It's up to parlt to decide on defense budget of at least 3 pct of GDP – Lithuanian PM
10. Lithuania's Tripartite Council starts talks on raising minimum wage 16 pct from 2025
11. Lithuanian PM says updated forecasts needed for minimum wage decision
12. Most Lithuanians don't miss Russian TV programs, but 14 pct still watch them – survey 
13. 10th rotation of US troops starts their service in Lithuania's Pabrade
14. Lithuanian PM to visit Singapore, Germany, to meet with leaders
15. Lithuanian, EU defmins discuss EU defense capabilities, support for Kyiv
16. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024

 

 

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 278, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

 

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with Moldovan Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi at 12.05 p.m.

 

DEFENSE MINISTER Laurynas Kasciunas to attend a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on defense issues.

 

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to attend a meeting of Nordic-Baltic justice ministers.

 

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.

 

Latvia reported 30 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 190 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

 

A total of 217 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.

 

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian president says he'd veto budget with less than 3 pct of GDP for defense

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday he would likely veto next year's state budget if it earmarked less than 3 percent of GDP for defense. 

 

"I think I'd veto it. Of course, other aspects need to be considered – you know that vetoing the budget in Lithuania is a yet untested tool," Nauseda told a TV3 program. 

 

" A lot of other things depend on it (the budget), and I'd certainly not like people who have nothing to do with this to be affected just because we failed to reach an agreement on this crucial issue," the president said. 

 

"I hope it won't come to that, because seeing the commitment of the parties, I believe at least 3 percent will be achieved. But I think we can reach even more," he added.

 

Lithuania is looking to boost defense funding to 3 percent of GDP to speed up the development of the planned military division and to host Germany's brigade.

 

The Finance Ministry a week ago proposed increasing the corporate tax rate by one percentage point, hiking excise duties on fuel, and introducing a tax on some insurance contracts as part of measures to raise additional funds for defense.

 

The ministry says these proposals will allow raising defense funding to around 3 percent of GDP for the 2025-2030 period. 

 

In his post-election press conference earlier on Monday, Nauseda, who was re-elected for a second five-year term, said that this is not enough and promised to push for defense spending to increase to 3.5 percent of GDP in the coming years. 

 

The president told TV3 that such a plan could be implemented as early as next year.

 

"But if we fail to do so, we really have no time to delay – 2026 at the latest," he said, adding that 3.5 percent of GDP "is the minimum necessary amount taking into account our procurement schedule and our decisions regarding infrastructure implementation". 

 

Nauseda said he believes that an agreement on this target could be reached, given that some parties that were initially skeptical about boosting the defense budget are now "among the most enthusiastic supporters of an increase in defense spending".

 

 

 

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Lithuanian president thinks Simonyte might not get support to continue as PM

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda sees a possibility that Ingrida Simonyte might fail to receive the support of some of her coalition partners to secure a renewed mandate to continue as prime minister after he is sworn in for his second term in July. 

 

"It's possible that the prime minister might not be re-appointed, because all sorts of situations can happen, especially given that there's not much time left before the (general) elections and (...) even the ruling coalition parties might view their coalition cooperation somewhat differently than they did for most of the term," he told a LRT TV program on Monday evening.  

 

According to Nauseda, the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party – the smaller coalition partners of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats – might show in the run-up to the parliamentary elections that "the position of the younger coalition partners is far from being automatically the same as that of the older brother".

 

"Such a motive may emerge," the re-elected president said.

 

The ruling coalition holds 72 seats in the 141-member parliament.

 

Under the law, the Cabinet must return its mandate after the next president is sworn in. The president then nominates the prime minister for reappointment as head of government. If the parliament does not give its approval, the Cabinet must resign.

 

If the Seimas approves the nomination and the president re-appoints the prime minister, the government continues to work under its program previously endorsed by the parliament, provided that less than half of the ministers have changed.

 

Ausrine Armonaite, the Freedom Party's leader, told BNS on Monday that she does not place much importance on this procedure, but added that it "will be a test for the ruling coalition and the prime minister herself." 

 

Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Seimas and leader of the Liberal Movement, said she does not think that submitting her leadership to a confidence vote in the parliament will pose a major challenge for the prime minister.

 

 

 

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Special operations forces hold demonstration drill at Lithuania's Elektrenai power plant

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – A demonstration drill is taking part at the Lithuanian Power Plant complex in Elektrenai on Tuesday as part of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Special Operations Forces Exercise Flaming Sword. 

 

The military has said in a press release that the synchronized and meticulously planned operation will be conducted by the Lithuanian SOF together with NATO allies.

 

The demonstration drill is to be observed by Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys, and SOF Commander Colonel Darius Milasius.

 

The international SOF exercises, which began on May 13, focuses on maintaining a high level of interoperability and readiness for special operations, according to the press release.

 

"More than 1,600 participants from 14 NATO countries are provided with a unique opportunity to conduct special operations as a coalition, ensuring a rapid and effective response to various threats in the Baltic airspace, on land and in territorial waters, as well as in cyber and information domains," the military stated.

 

Ignitis Gamyba's Elektrenai complex is Lithuania's largest gas-fired power plant. The complex provides electricity reserve services and its units are usually only switched on when necessary, for example during price spikes on the electricity market.

 

Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys has told BNS that the Lithuanian Power Plant's units will be needed to ensure balancing and stability of the system until hydrogen replaces gas as the fuel for electricity generation and they will also keep the system efficient during unforeseen circumstances like war.

 

 

 

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Russia's actions need legal assessment, collective response – aide

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Russia's actions need a legal assessment and collective response, Kestutis Budrys, a senior aide to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says, amid reports of a possible case of sabotage in Vilnius in recent weeks and the Kremlin's plans to change the maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland.

 

"One of the things that we definitely need is a legal assessment adequate to the activities (...)," he told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday. "The other step is, of course, that collective response. In this case, it is important to underline that this is not about Lithuania, the Baltic states or Poland only (...), but it is about the whole Alliance and all the countries that are helping Ukraine, which is why the response must be a collective one, with red lines being drawn very clearly."

 

His comment came after 12 people were arrested in Poland last week, suspected of being involved in sabotage cases ordered by Russia.

 

Among the examples of sabotage, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cited an attempt to set fire to the IKEA store in Vilnius.

 

Meanwhile, last Wednesday, reports emerged that Russia planned to change its maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland. This information was subsequently removed from the Russian Defense Ministry's website.

 

According to Budrys, it is important to draw lines for Russia, and their crossing will be considered an act of aggression against NATO.

 

"It is not that you create a spark a conflict between two states that could lead to war by driving a tank or violating the airspace of two states with a missile only," the presidential aide said. "Russia, I think, is testing us in the sense of how much we will tolerate this or that action, and that tolerance has not gone very far. We are talking about this with our partners at the moment."

 

By Greta Zulonaitė

 

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Lithuanian formin calls of swifter EU decisions on Russian assets for Ukraine's defense

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called on the European Union to speed up its efforts to finance Ukraine's defense by using profits from frozen Russian assets in the EU.

 

"We must immediately redirect profits from frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine’s military defense," he was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

 

Landsbergis attended a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels and called on his counterparts to approve EU legislation on military aid for Ukraine as soon as possible.

 

After months of wrangling, the EU Council last week endorsed a plan to use profits from the Russian Central Bank's roughly 200 billion euros of frozen assets to arm Ukraine, but uncertainties still remain over its practical implementation.

 

According to Landsbergis, the West's fear and moderation act "as an invitation to Russia" to escalate the situation in Ukraine as well as in the EU and NATO countries.

 

"We must allow Ukraine to strike back if Russia escalates. We must join the initiatives of real assistance to Ukraine and implement them as soon as possible," Lithuania's top diplomat said.

 

Lithuania has expressed public support for initiatives by France, Germany, and the Czech Republic to support Ukraine. In addition, Lithuania has taken concrete steps to aid Ukraine as soon as possible. 

 

During the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Landsbergis also shared his insights after the joint visit of the foreign ministers of Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, and Lithuania to Georgia as the country's parliament continues its push to put the controversial "foreign agent" law in force, while critics say the new law, similar to the one in place in Russia, will be used to silence opposition groups 

 

Landsbergis says "this law is only one example of Georgia’s greater democratic erosion, turning away from European values and the path to the EU".

 

"The EU must review its relations with Georgia in this light," he underlined.

 

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Air attack drill held at Lithuanian parliament 

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – The first air attack drill was held at the Seimas Palace in Vilnius on Tuesday.   

 

The aim was to evacuate people from the parliament's Buildings 1 and 2 to a shelter within 10 minutes.

 

Around a hundred people, including MPs and their aides, and journalists, were directed to the basements of Building 1, where they were provided with information about the drill, air raid alert levels, and first aid.

 

Paulius Saudargas, vice-speaker of the Seimas, simulated being injured.

 

Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament, was evacuated separately.

 

According to the drill organizers, they managed to get everyone in the building into the shelter within 10 minutes.

 

The shelter in the Seimas Palace and the emergency direct exit to the outside were also tested for the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

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It's up to parlt to decide on defense budget of at least 3 pct of GDP – Lithuanian PM

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – It's up to the Seimas to decide on a defense budget of at least 3 percent of GDP, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte says as President Gitanas Nauseda mulls vetoing next year's budget if it includes less than 3 percent of GDP for defense.

 

"If the Seimas decides on additional sources of funding, it will not be a big problem," the prime minister told reporters in Elektrenai on Tuesday.

 

Last week, the Finance Ministry proposed raising additional funds for defense by increasing the corporate tax rate by one percentage point, raising excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol, introducing a tax on some insurance contracts, extending the now temporary bank solidarity levy for another 12 months, and taxing some small businesses more.

 

According to the ministry, these proposals will increase defense funding to around 3 percent of GDP between 2025 and 2030. Lithuania is looking for ways to increase defense spending to speed up the establishment of an army division and to accommodate the German brigade assigned to Lithuania.

 

Re-elected for a second term, Nauseda told a press conference on Monday that this was not enough and vowed to push for an increase in national defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP in the coming years. Later, he told the TV3 television that he would probably veto next year's state budget if it did not include at least 3 percent of GDP for defense.

 

Simonyte says that if the Finance Ministry's proposals were not adopted, defense spending would have to be increased through borrowing, which would most likely breach the Maastricht criterion, and therefore "we should think about what spending needs to be squeezed, and increase less".

 

By Augustas Stankevičius, Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Lithuania's Tripartite Council starts talks on raising minimum wage 16 pct from 2025

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS - The Tripartite Council, representing the interests of the government, employers and employees in Lithuania, is launching discussions on raising the minimum monthly wage by 16 percent to 1,070 euros before tax, from the existing from 924 euros, from January 2025. Trade unions say they support the central Bank of Lithuania's proposal, while businesses believe that such a minimum wage would be too high.

 

Inga Ruginiene, chair of the Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions, says that the Bank of Lithuania will unveil its calculations at the meeting on Tuesday.

 

"Today, the Bank of Lithuania will present the figures on how much it would be based on the formula we have agreed, and how they see the whole situation. They have already presented that figure to the Commission on Labor Relations, so we already know what that preliminary figure is. Our main position is that we should be starting negotiations from 1,070 euros in 2025," Ruginiene told BNS. 

 

Meanwhile, Emilis Ruzele, acting director of the Lithuanian Business Confederation, says such an minimum monthly wage would be too much of a burden for businesses.

 

"In our opinion, we need more discussions this year and take into account the fact there's the ongoing public discussion on defense funding, tax increases and then, at least what we see from the initial proposals, we see that most of those taxes would come from businesses. This is an important aspect when it comes to the minimum wage," he told BNS.

 

"Our position is that it (the minimum wage - BNS) will naturally increase, and the average wage is also increasing very fast, but we think that the increase could be more modest. (...) We have not named a specific figure," he said, doubting that the minimum wag will be raised to the level proposed by the Bank of Lithuania.

 

Ruginiene says discussions on changes to the formula for calculating the minimum wage and on increasing the non-taxable income rate will be held.

 

"Employers think the formula should be changed and productivity should be introduced. We have already discussed this at several meetings, but we don't see the need for that (...). And we will be also talking about non-taxable income rate, whether to raise it or not," she said.

 

The minimum pre-tax monthly wage in Lithuania stands at 924 euros this year.

 

Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said in early May the minimum wage would likely to exceed 1,000 euros next year, and her estimate was later echoed by Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene.

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Lithuanian PM says updated forecasts needed for minimum wage decision

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Tuesday that updated wage forecasts from the central bank and the Finance Ministry are needed to set next year's minimum monthly wage "as accurately as possible". 

 

Her comment comes as the Tripartite Council, which brings together representatives from the government, employers and trade unions, is starting discussions on the central bank's proposal to raise the minimum monthly wage by 16 percent to 1,070 euros before tax, from the current 924 euros, as of January 2025. 

 

According to Simonyte, if employee and employer representatives fail to reach an agreement, the government could make its decision in September.

 

"We need to get a better sense of this year's projections when they are updated by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Lithuania, so as to be as accurate as possible in setting next year's minimum wage," the prime minister told reporters in Elektrenai.

 

"I'd say that the government’s decision on this matter is most likely to be made sometime in September while drafting the budget (for 2025), because this is also important for the budget," she added.  

 

Simonyte noted that last year, trade unions and employers "probably for the first time" agreed on a minimum wage increase, and the government "only had to give its approval to that agreement". 

 

"We'll try to find some consensus and agreement. If, as has happened in the past, opinions diverge, then the government will have to set the amount," the prime minister said. 

 

"We know the ranges we need to aim for. To calculate them correctly, we need the most up-to-date wage data," she added. 

 

Simonyte noted that previously, employers and employees had differing opinions, with trade unions seeking a faster wage increase and businesses preferring a slower one.

 

The prime minister said that the minimum wage has been rising "very rapidly" in recent years, alongside the growth of the average wage and the number of employed people. 

 

She believes that a faster minimum wage increase would not have an adverse impact on the country's labor market, which is expected to remain "very resilient".

 

"The number of job vacancies remains quite high; there may be slightly more layoffs, but there are also more hires; unemployment has slightly increased, but not significantly," she said.  

 

Inga Ruginiene, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions, told BNS on Tuesday that the central bank's proposed 1,070-euro minimum wage should be the "starting point" for talks between businesses and employees.

 

Emilis Ruzele, acting director of the Lithuanian Business Confederation, said, however, that such a minimum monthly wage would be too much of a burden for businesses, especially in light of discussions on a possible increase in corporate and other taxes for defense purposes.

 

 

 

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

 

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Most Lithuanians don't miss Russian TV programs, but 14 pct still watch them – survey 

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Most people in Lithuania do not miss Russian television programs, but 14 percent still watch them, according to a survey commissioned by the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (RTCL).

 

Four out of five respondents answered "no" to the question of whether they miss Russian channels in Lithuania. The percentage was particularly high, at over 90 percent, among young people aged under 29 years, it said in a press release.  

 

Fourteen percent of those polled admitted to having watched TV channels broadcast from Russia recently. This answer was more common among older people, and ethnic Poles or Russians, the media watchdog noted.   

 

Almost half of those who watch TV channels broadcast in Russia said they do so on TV, 34 percent via specialized websites, 27.7 percent via social media platforms, and 14.7 percent via satellite.

 

YouTube was named as the most frequently used medium to get news from Russian-language TV channels (64.3 percent), followed by Telegram channels with 26.8 percent, Nastoyashcheye Vremia (Current Time) with 19.9 percent, and Dozd TV with 10.5 percent.  

 

More than half of all respondents said they do not watch news on foreign channels at all. Those who do so most often watch the BBC (23.8 percent), followed by Euronews (18.8 percent), CNN (17.7 percent), Deutsche Welle (6.1 percent), and others.

 

These channels are more likely to be watched by respondents aged under 39 years.

 

In the survey commissioned by the RTCL, Kantar polled 1,123 people in Lithuania in May. 

 

Lithuania banned Russian and Belarusian TV channels and websites over warmongering and propaganda in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

 

In April, the parliament amended the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, prohibiting the retransmission of programs produced by companies registered in Russia and Belarus for as long as they pose a threat to national security. 

 

 

 

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10th rotation of US troops starts their service in Lithuania's Pabrade

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – US rotational battalion changed at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training area in Lithuania's Pabrade on Tuesday.

 

The incoming rotation arrived in Lithuania in May, the Lithuanian army said, adding that the US troops are bringing in M109A6 Paladin artillery systems, Abrams tanks and Bradley IVFs.

 

The allies will take part in exercises, live-fire exercises and events together with the battalions of the Zemaitija Brigade, individual companies and other Lithuanian army units.

 

According to the army, the outgoing rotation has contributed to the training of junior commanders since September 2023, as well as to the JLTV course, and took part in the Exercises Strong Griffon 2023 and Brave Griffon 2024 and other events.

 

US Army troops have been rotating in the Baltics and Eastern Europe since 2014 as part of the US Army's Operation Atlantic Resolve in the eastern part of the Alliance. The aim of the operation is to strengthen allied defense and security in the region.

 

By Dominykas Biržietis

 

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Lithuanian PM to visit Singapore, Germany, to meet with leaders

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte will pay a working visit to Singapore and the German capital of Berlin this week, the government said on Tuesday.

 

At the Shangri-La Dialogue defense and security conference, Simonyte will meet with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as well as with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

 

The program of the visit also includes meetings with representatives of Singapore's scientific and business communities, and with the local Lithuanian community.

 

On Sunday, Simonyte is scheduled to take part in an East German Economic Forum discussion with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian, EU defmins discuss EU defense capabilities, support for Kyiv

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, who is attending a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on defense issues in Brussels, discussed with his colleagues ways to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities, defense cooperation and the EU's support for Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

 

First, a meeting of the Steering Board of the European Defense Agency took place and the updated Long Term Review was presented. The EDA assists EU member states in developing military capabilities and supporting defense cooperation projects.

 

"We must continue the dialogue with NATO, in particular on the exchange of classified information, to make good use of the EDA-Ukraine Administrative Arrangement, and to update it in line with Ukraine's needs. I am pleased that progress has been made in the implementation of the capability development priorities and that the cooperation opportunities are in line with our national priorities, in particular in the areas of air defense, drone and land force development," Kasciunas was quoted as saying in the statement.

 

The EDA is involved in the joint procurement of 155 mm ammunition, coordinating requirements and pooling needs.

 

According to the Defense Ministry, Russia is currently producing three times more artillery shells than Europe and the US are supplying to Ukraine, which is why decisions are needed on the Ukraine Relief Fund and the European Peace Facility's eighth support package.

 

Kasciunas also welcomed the fact that the EU had managed to agree on the use of windfall revenue generated by frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's defense, adding that this revenue should be used to finance Ukraine's urgent needs, such as air defense systems, artillery ammunition and drones.

 

Lithuania plans to sign a security agreement with Ukraine and to allocate 0.25 percent of its GDP annually to Ukraine's security and defense, the minister said.

 

He also signed a memorandum of understanding with Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova on the purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine. Lithuania has contributed 35 million euros to the Czech-led international ammunition initiative.

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 29, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

 

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Olympic movement in Lithuania at 6.30 p.m.

 

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with members of a delegation from Ukraine's Verhkovna Rada at noon.

 

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to leave for Singapore.

 

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LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

1. Lithuanian PM concedes defeat in presidential election run-off, congratulates Nauseda
2. Voter turnout in Lithuanian presidential run-off lower than usual (updates)
3. Lithuanian PM concedes defeat in presidential election run-off, congratulates Nauseda
4. Lithuanian president thanks PM for honorable presidential race
5. Nauseda declares victory in Lithuania's presidential election
6. Simonyte could lead HU-LCD candidate list for parlt elections again – Landsbergis (expands)
7. Economist Nauseda e-elected Lithuania's president
8. Lithuanian president says he won’t rush to initiate government reshuffle
9. Nauseda vows to refresh his team, wants to keep 'a few key people'
10. Nauseda pledges strong focus on defense, calls freedom 'fragile vessel'
11. SocDems' decision to back Nauseda has proved effective – leader
12. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, May 27, 2024
13. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
14. Lithuanian govt vice-chancellor Krisciunas proposed as ambassador to OECD
15. Lithuania has revoked all weapon permits issued to Russian, Belarusian citizens  
16. 3.5 pct of GDP should be allocated to national defense in Lithuania – Nauseda
17. Nauseda says he has several candidates for Lithuania' chief of defense
18. Lithuanian PM plans to discuss Cabinet changes with president by July
19. I will have strong voice when deciding on new EU commissioner – Nauseda
20. Renaming Taiwanese office won't fundamentally change Lithuania-China ties – Nauseda 
21. Court upholds decision to revoke Belorus director Epifanov's Lithuanian residence permit
22. FSRU Independence returns to Lithuanian seaport after dry docking in Denmark 
23. Iceland's Play Airlines launches Vilnius-Reykjavik flights 
24. Fear of stopping Russia is invitation to Russia to act in our countries – Landsbergis
25. Lithuanian PM's election defeat down to lack of campaigning – Freedom Party leader
26. NATO jets scrambled once to patrol Baltic airspace, twice to intercept Russian planes
27. Lithuania's fertilizer producer Lifosa plans to resume operations 
28. Lithuania: Jonava District mayor found guilty of abuse, misappropriation
29. Lithuanian parlt speaker, six counterparts urge Tbilisi to repeal 'foreign agent' law
30. Lithuanian ForMin extends condolences over deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea
31. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 278, 2024

 

 

Lithuanian PM concedes defeat in presidential election run-off, congratulates Nauseda

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte conceded her defeat in the presidential election run-off to the country's President Gitanas Nauseda on Sunday night and congratulated him on his victory.

 

"I would like to congratulate the president-elect of Lithuania," Simonyte, who was nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, told reporters.

 

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Voter turnout in Lithuanian presidential run-off lower than usual (updates)

 

Updated version: updates figures in para 3

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS –  Voter turnout in Sunday's presidential run-off between President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte was lower than usual for such elections, figures from the Central Electoral Commission showed after the polls closed at 8 p.m.  

 

Voter turnout was 49.61 percent, the lowest since the 2014 presidential run-off. 

 

Some 38.58 percent of voters, or over 900,000, turned out on Sunday and another 11.03 percen, or 257,000, voted in advance.

 

This is down from 59.37 percent in the first round two weeks ago and down from 53.43 percent in the second round of the previous presidential election in 2019. 

 

There were a total of 2,385,234 citizens on this year's voter roll.

 

Nauseda, the incumbent seeking re-election for a second five-year term, took almost 44 percent of the vote in the first round, against 20 percent for his closest rival Simonyte, the candidate of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats.  

 

Political analysts and politicians see Nauseda as the clear favorite to win the second round as well.

 

By Jūratė Skėrytė

 

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Lithuanian PM concedes defeat in presidential election run-off, congratulates Nauseda

 

Updated version: updates from para 3

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte conceded her defeat in the presidential election run-off to the country's President Gitanas Nauseda on Sunday night and congratulated him on his victory.

 

"I would like to congratulate the president-elect of Lithuania," Simonyte, who was nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, told reporters.

 

Simonyte said she would return to work as prime minister on Monday.

 

She thanked people for their support, despite calls from some politicians to vote against her in order to keep her out of the run-off.

 

"My term of office did not make it easy to run for president," said the prime minister, who has been leading the Lithuanian government for the past three and a half years.

 

The latest data from the Central Electoral Commission, 20.34 percent voted for Simonyte in the presidential run-off on Sunday.

 

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Lithuanian president thanks PM for honorable presidential race

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda thanked Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte for an honorable presidential race and thoughtful debate during the election campaign after she called him on Sunday night and conceded defeat.

 

"Thank you, Ingrida. I hope that our debate was mature and reflected our respect for each other. I am glad that it was thoughtful enough and deep enough, and I hope that you have the same impression," Nauseda during his phone conversation with the prime minister.

 

"Thank you for the honorable presidential race, and I will certainly see soon as we will have a lot of work to do," the president said.

 

The latest data from the Central Electoral Commission show Nauseda won over 77 percent of the vote on Sunday and was re-elected for his second five-year term.

 

Almost half of the registered voters cast their ballots in the presidential run-off.

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Nauseda declares victory in Lithuania's presidential election

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nause declared his victory in the presidential election on Sunday as he secured his second five-year term.

 

"They (the people of Lithuania - BNS) have given me a great mandate of trust and I am well aware that I will have to cherish this credit of trust," he told journalists in Vilnius.

 

"Now that I have five years of experience, I believe I will be able to use this jewel in a proper way, first and foremost to achieve the goals of prosperity for all the people of Lithuania," he added.

 

Nauseda ran for president against Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

 

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Simonyte could lead HU-LCD candidate list for parlt elections again – Landsbergis (expands)

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS - Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte could again lead the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats' list of candidates for the Seimas election in October, despite her defeat in the presidential run-off on Sunday, the party's leader Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

 

"The first round results reflect significant voter confidence in the party's candidate Ingrida. I am personally convinced that Ingrida Simonyte would be able to lead the party's list for the Seimas election and continue the important work of the government," Landsbergis told BNS on Sunday night.

 

"I will propose to the party's community next week to start a discussion on who will lead the party's list for the general election," he added.

 

Landsbergis congratulated President Gitanas Nauseda on his re-election and said that amid the ongoing war in Europe, Lithuania will continue its pro-Western course of supporting Ukraine and boosting Lithuania's defense.

 

According to Landsbergis, Simonyte demonstrated a high level of political culture and a high standard of European politics during the election campaign and debate.

 

Simonyte is yet to comment on whether she will agree to lead the HU-LCD list during the upcoming Seimas election.

 

On Sunday, she lost to Nauseda after the latter received more than three-quarters of the vote, according to the latest figures.

 

By Saulius Jakučionis

 

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Economist Nauseda e-elected Lithuania's president

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS - Economist Gitanas Nauseda, 60, was re-elected Lithuania's president on Sunday.

 

According to the preliminary data from the country's Central Electoral Commission, he secured a landslide victory in the presidential election run-off, having received with more than 75 percent of the vote.

 

His rival Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, received over 22 percent of the vote.

 

Five years ago, Nauseda received almost 66 percent of votes, but voter turnout was much higher then.

 

"I am seriously thinking about the further creation of a welfare state," Nauseda said on Sunday night, having chosen the creation of a welfare state as his election slogan five years ago.

 

He also vowed to keep Lithuania's existing foreign policy course, hoping that the country will benefit even more its membership in international organizations, firs of all, the European Union and NATO.

 

Nauseda's new five-year term of office will be his last as Lithuania's Constitution prevents a person from being elected president more than twice in a row.

 

Nauseda's first term will expire in July.

 

Nauseda, an economist and a graduate of Vilnius University, holds a PhD in social sciences and worked at the Institute of Economics and Privatization, the State Service for Prices and Competition, the Bank of Lithuania, lectured at Vilnius University for almost three decades, and worked for 18 years for a private bank.

 

The Lithuanian president lists chess, collecting Lithuanian language publications and sports as his hobbies

 

Simonyte says her work as PM impacted her result

 

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has already called to congratulate Nauseda on his victory and vowed to continue working as prime minister. However, she does not disclose her future political plans.

 

In her words, the question of whether she will lead the HU-LCD list of candidates for the October general election is "very premature", and the question of whether she would lead the party after the leadership election in 2025 is even more premature.

 

For his part, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the HU-LCD, said earlier on Sunday that Simonyte could lead the party's list again.

 

Simonyte says the fact that the HU-LCD has been in power for almost four years also had impact on the result of the presidential run-off.

 

"Unlike in 2019, when I was running from a rather comfortable position, as an opposition politician, (...) now I stood for election from a completely different position after those three and a half years, during which we have really seen everything," the prime minister said.

 

According to Simonyte, the HU-LCD will hold internal discussions to evaluate the results of the presidential election and "the necessity to change something in any (future election - BNS) strategy".

 

Landsbergis said earlier Simonyte demonstrated a high level of political culture and a high standard of European politics during the election campaign and debates, adding, however, that the pro-Western direction of Lithuania would remain unchanged following Nauseda's re-election.

 

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Lithuanian president says he won’t rush to initiate government reshuffle

 

VILNIUS, May 26, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, re-elected for a second term on Sunday, says he will not rush into raising the issue of reshuffling the government but will do so in July when the Cabinet will return its powers after the inauguration.

 

"We should not be discussing this tonight when the results have not yet been officially confirmed, it is certainly not today's issue because, as you understand, I am now the president-elect, (...) I have not yet finished my first term. I will only start my second term in mid-July after the inauguration," Nauseda told reporters on Sunday. "Then we'll have all those procedural issues with the government."

 

The president and his aides said after the first round voting in the presidential election two weeks ago that more than a few ministers could be replaced one the Cabinet returned its powers to the president.

 

Nauseda has previously called for the appointment of a new education, science and sport minister, a position that is now temporarily filled by Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene, and also said, if elected, he would raise the issue of Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas' responsibility.

 

Speaking after the first round, presidential aide Frederikas Jansonas said only Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte could feel secured about her future, if she lost to Nauseda in the run-off.

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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Nauseda vows to refresh his team, wants to keep 'a few key people'

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian President-elect Gitanas Nauseda vows to refresh his team of aides for a new term, but says he wants to keep a few key people "at all costs".

 

"I see a few key people that I would like to keep at all costs. They are important to me. I have had many opportunities to see their professionalism and dedication to their work," Nauseda told journalists in Vilnius on Sunday. "I will certainly try to rebuild the team based on the key people, but I expect some changes." 

 

He did not say as to what extent his team would change, but added that five years is "a long time and after five years there is a need for change, including within the team". 

 

The latest figures from the Central Electoral Commission show that Nauseda won 75.55 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential run-off, and defeated Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats. 

 

Nauseda will be sworn for a new five-year term in July.

 

By Giedrius Gaidamavičius

 

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Nauseda pledges strong focus on defense, calls freedom 'fragile vessel'

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's President-elect Gitanas Nauseda vows to focus on foreign policy and defense, including the reception of the German brigade assigned to Lithuania.

 

"Lithuania's independence and freedom is like a fragile vessel we must cherish, protect and prevent from cracking," he told reporters late Sunday night.

 

According to the latest data, Nauseda won 75.24 percent of the vote in the presidential election run-off on Sunday, and 23.25 percent voted for Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

 

Nauseda named the United States, Germany, Poland and the other Baltic states as Lithuania's key partners.

 

"We have a very similar position on fundamental issues, like support for Ukraine, the attitude towards the Russian threat," Nauseda said.

 

The plans to continue his started work, saying that ties with the leaders of other countries will help him to do so.

 

Nauseda hopes this would allow Lithuania to take on a "leadership role" internationally. Lithuania will take over the EU presidency in 2027, which is "a good way to show leadership" for the country that has already hosted events such as the NATO and the Three Seas Summits, he said.

 

"Lithuania is becoming a place where world leaders can discuss important existential issues," he said.

 

Maritime border with Latvia

 

Nauseda also hopes his second presidential term will allow Lithuania to get back to discussions with Latvia on their maritime border.

 

"I do believe we will be able to get back to it, and maybe we will have even more favorable conditions for solving it as the confrontation over who owns the alleged oil, which is probably not even there, has hindered the agreement," the president said, adding that the bilateral maritime border issue, which has not yet been ratified by the Latvian parliament, has "lost its dynamics and relevance" due to the changed circumstances.

 

"The issue has taken on a slightly different turn. We started in a completely different context when it was actually thought that there was a need to look for oil in that place, exploration work was started, and completely unnecessary tensions arose with our excellent neighbor," Nauseda said. "Now we are talking more about completely different things – wind farms and so on. I will say it frankly – this issue has lost its dynamics and relevance for both countries," he added.

 

The Lithuanian-Latvian maritime border treaty was signed in the summer of 1999, but has not yet been ratified by Latvia.

 

By Augustas Stankevičius, Giedrius Gaidamavičius

 

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SocDems' decision to back Nauseda has proved effective – leader

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party's decision to back President Gitanas Nauseda in the presidential election run-off has proved effective, the party's leader Vilija Blinkeviciute says.

 

"To tell the truth, I think it was our party's very good decision to support Gitanas Nauseda during this presidential election, and it has proved effective," she told journalists at Nauseda's election HQ on Sunday night, adding that she had no doubt in Nauseda's landslide victory.

 

The LSDP did not have its own presidential candidate this year.

 

Nauseda has previously said he sees Blinkeviciute as one of the key contenders to be the next prime minister if her party wins the upcoming Seimas election in the fall.

 

"This victory truly inspires me to really work. So if people have trust in the LSDP and vote for its in the Seimas election in the fall, then we will all put our crowns on," Blinkeviciute said when asked whether Nauseda's re-election inspired her to seek the prime ministerial position. 

 

The general election in Lithuania will be held in October, and public opinion polls show the Social Democrats are the clear favorites.

 

Nauseda on Sunday defeated Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats. And Blinkeviciute says the election result reflects the public opinion about the ruling bloc. 

 

According to the latest figures from the Central Electoral Commission, Nauseda won around 75 percent of the vote on Sunday.

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, May 27, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Monday, May 27, 2024.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to meet with participants of the European Academy of Diplomacy, to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

 

BNSPOST-ELECTON PRESS CONFERENCES

 

BNS and LRT to hold press conferences on the results of the presidential election runoff:

 

Gitanas Nauseda at 9 a.m.

 

Ingrida Simonytr at 9.30 a.m.

 

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION chair Lina Petroniene and CEC members to hold a press conference at noon.

 

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

 

Latvia reported nine attempts at illegal border crossings on Sunday, and 283 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Saturday, according to the latest available information.

 

A total of 217 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.

 

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

 

 

 

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Lithuanian govt vice-chancellor Krisciunas proposed as ambassador to OECD

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Rolandas Krisciunas, first deputy chancellor of the Lithuanian government, is proposed for the post of the country's ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

 

If appointed, Krisciunas will take up his new duties in Paris, where Lithuania's Permanent Representation to the OECD is based, on August 26, according to a draft government resolution.

 

Prior to his appointment to his current position of first deputy chancellor in August 2021, Krisciunas worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on foreign policy and EU issues.

 

Krisciunas has in the past served as Lithuania's deputy finance minister and deputy foreign minister.  

 

Lina Viltrakiene, the current ambassador to the OECD, was appointed as Lithuania's first permanent representative to the organization in 2019. 

 

Lithuania became a member of the OECD in 2018.

 

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed by the president on the government's recommendation and with the approval of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 

 

 

 

 

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Lithuania has revoked all weapon permits issued to Russian, Belarusian citizens  

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Following the parliament's decision a year and a half ago to ban Russian and Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania from possessing weapons, all permits issued to them have been revoked, with arms yet to be recovered from two individuals.

 

The Police Department says in its comment to BNS that 294 Russian and 46 Belarusian citizens held permits to keep or carry weapons at the end of 2022 when the amendment was adopted. All of these permits have since been revoked. 

 

"There are two individuals whose weapons have not yet been taken. They have been contacted but are not currently in Lithuania. The weapons will be taken upon their return to Lithuania," it said.  

 

At the beginning of the year, all persons were informed in writing about the possibility of voluntarily selling their weapons or handing them over to the police by April 1.

 

Most of the Russian and Belarusian citizens used this opportunity, and the remaining weapons were taken by the police after the April 1 deadline passed.

 

"No weapons were confiscated. Most have already been sold. Some have been handed over to gun shops for consignment sale. A small number of weapons are temporarily stored at police offices," the department said.

 

The ban on possessing weapons for Russian and Belarusian citizens residing permanently in Lithuania was initiated by Laurynas Kasciunas, the then-chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, 

 

The politician then said that the amendment to the Law on the Control of Arms and Ammunition would help prevent the formation and activities of subversive groups favoring hostile states.

 

 

 

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3.5 pct of GDP should be allocated to national defense in Lithuania – Nauseda

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania should increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP "in the coming years", President-elect Gitanas Nauseda says.

 

"I think we should reach at least 3.5 percent of GDP in the coming years because this is not just a made up figure. It is a figure we can base on our urgent needs right now," Nauseda, who was re-elected for his second presidential five-year term on Sunday, told a post-election press conference on Monday.

 

He identified the reception of the German brigade assigned to Lithuania, the modernization of the Lithuanian army and preparations for universal conscription as those "urgent needs".

 

"All of this requires very tangible financial resources, and we have to allocate them because (...) we cannot shatter this vessel, we cannot allow it to break, because it is a vessel that ensures everything else, including prosperity and a sense of security," Nauseda said.

 

Last week, the Finance Ministry unveiled its proposals on ways to increase defense funding as the government aims to spend 3 percent of GDP on national defense from next year.

 

"In my opinion, this is insufficient," the president stressed.

 

2.7 percent of GDP s allocated for national defense in Lithuania's budget this year.

 

According to the initial data from the Central Electoral Commission, over 74 percent of voters voted for Nauseda in the presidential election run-off on Sunday, and 24 percent voted for Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte nominated by the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

 

Nauseda will be sworn in for his second term in July.

 

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Nauseda says he has several candidates for Lithuania' chief of defense

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's President-elect Gitanas Nauseda says he is talking to several candidates for the position of the country's chief of defense and plans to finish consultations after the presidential election.

 

"Consultations have already started. Of course, these consultations have been somewhat disturbed by the fact that the presidential election had not yet taken place. Now that the presidential election has taken place, and now we will be able to finalize these consultations," Nauseda told a post-election press conference on Monday, adding that there are "some really very serious candidates" for the position.

 

"I have already met with some of these candidates and I have raised questions not only about their professionalism, their commitment to the homeland, but I have also asked them if they are psychologically strong and resilient because we might have all kinds of situations and conditions that will arise on the chief of defense's path," the president-elect said.

 

"They have to be not only visionaries, but they have to be fully prepared in every sense, and we have such candidates, as I understand it, and the most important thing now is to choose one of them," Nauseda added.

 

The five-year term of office of Lithuania's incumbent chief of defense, Valdemaras Rupsys, ends in July.

 

According to the Constitution, the chief of defense is appointed and dismissed by the president with the approval of the Seimas.

 

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Lithuanian PM plans to discuss Cabinet changes with president by July

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – With Gitanas Nauseda talking about a Cabinet reshuffle after his re-election for a second-term, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte plans to meet with him to discuss this matter before the government returns its mandate in July.

 

"When the government returns its mandate (...), the vote is not on the government or its program, nor is the prime minister tasked with forming a government by presidential decree. The vote is primarily on the confidence in the prime minister," Simonyte said at a post-election press conference in Vilnius on Monday.

 

"I believe we'll have opportunities to meet with the president before these procedures are carried out in the Seimas," she added.

 

Nauseda scored a landslide victory in Sunday's presidential run-off with over 74 percent of the vote, against 24 percent for Simonyte, based on preliminary figures from the Central Electoral Commission.

 

Under the Constitution, the government will have to return its mandate to the president after he is sworn in in July, and the head of state will then reappoint the Cabinet.

 

Nauseda and his advisors said after the first round of the presidential election that more than a few ministers could change in the Cabinet after it returns its mandate to the president.

 

The president has previously called for the appointment of a new education, science and sport minister, a position that is now temporarily filled by Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene, and also said that he would raise the issue of Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas' responsibility if re-elected.

 

Simonyte said on Monday that she also intends to discuss the post of the education, science and sport minister with the president before the return of the mandate.

 

"I believe Monika Navickiene is managing well with the additional challenges," she said. "From a practical point of view, she could continue in this role, but I'm not saying it should be so."

 

However, the prime minister does not intend to raise the issue of the agriculture minister's responsibility until the return of the mandate.

 

"I can't say that I'll change anything before the mandate is returned. I think it's both irrational and pointless to do so," Simonyte said.

 

"If the government is to receive a new mandate and its composition is to be confirmed at the same time, I don't see why the composition should be changed before that moment," she added.

 

Simonyte noted that this is a coalition government, meaning that its composition is determined not only by her decisions or those of the president.

 

"There are three parties in the coalition. All these decisions aren't only mine and the president's but also those that have to be discussed in the coalition," she said.

 

Frederikas Jansonas, a presidential advisor, said after the first round that Simonyte was the only Cabinet member who could feel safe about her job after a reshuffle.   

 

 

 

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

 

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I will have strong voice when deciding on new EU commissioner – Nauseda

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who was re-elected for a second term on Sunday, says he is not yet in a position to name a candidate for European commissioners, adding, however, that his vote in the process will be strong.

 

"Even if I wanted to, even if I had foreseen it, it is almost impossible to say at the moment which party or which parties will nominate a candidate for the European Commission," he told a post-election press conference on Monday.

 

"My voice will be important in this process. I will certainly have a very clear opinion on the candidates, but to say today that it will be one person or another would be simply irresponsible and would be spreading lies," Nauseda said.

 

In a review published last week, Politico, the Brussels-based current affairs publication, mentioned HU-LCD leader and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis as the only candidate who could become Lithuania's commissioner.

 

Landsbergis has been informally mentioned as a candidate for European commissioners in Lithuania for some time as well, but so far he has not publicly commented on his intentions or chances of working for the Commission.

 

"Two scenarios are possible. First, this ruling majority will delegate its candidate. (...) Second, the candidate would be delegated by the next ruling coalition," Nauseda said without further saying which of the two scenarios is more realistic.

 

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said last week that, depending on the appointment of the new president of the European Commission after the European Parliament election, the nomination of European commissioners should take place during the term of this Seimas and this government.

 

EU member states nominated one commissioner each. Currently, Virginijus Sinkevicius is representing Lithuania as the commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries.

 

In Lithuania, the government, the Seimas and the president have to approve the country's candidate or a European commissioner, and then the European Parliament makes the final decision on all the candidates.

 

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Renaming Taiwanese office won't fundamentally change Lithuania-China ties – Nauseda 

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Gitanas Nauseda, re-elected for a second five-year term as Lithuania's president, said on Monday that he does not consider the renaming of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius a priority issue and does not believe it would alter relations with China.  

 

"Overall, I think this isn't a priority issue at the moment. I want to calmly sort out all the foreign policy issues with my new team," Nauseda told a post-election press conference.

 

"Relations with China are as they are, and I really don't think that changing the name of the representative office would fundamentally change anything," he said.

 

In early May, Nauseda told BNS that he saw a need to rename the office.

 

Frederikas Jansonas, the president's chief communications advisor, has said that if it is found that the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office is the only thing bothering China, changing it could be considered.

 

"I have probably articulated quite clearly my attitude towards China and (...) the need for the European Union to have a very clear policy towards China, because there have been certain shifts over the past few years," Nauseda told the press conference on Monday.

 

"China has demonstrated its unwillingness and inability to communicate and engage in dialogue (...) with the European Union and other states that adhere to the rule of law and democratic principles," the president said.

 

"China is either covertly or sometimes directly supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine," he noted.  

 

According to the president, it is important to answer the question of whether, in the light of China's current actions, cooperation with the country should be intensified.

 

"I think the answer is no," he said. 

 

The representative office, which was opened in Vilnius in 2021, was named "Taiwanese" in the Lithuanian and English languages, but the Chinese version uses the name "Taiwan".

 

Beijing sees this as an attempt by Taiwan to act as an independent state. In other countries, such representative offices use the name "Taipei".

 

Following Nauseda's remarks on the name of the Taiwanese office in Vilnius, the latter urged Lithuania to "look forward, and continue to work together to further advance our bilateral relations".  

 

The opening of the Taiwanese office soured bilateral ties between Lithuania and China, with Beijing downgrading diplomatic relations with Vilnius and blocking its exports.

 

 

 

By Greta Zulonaitė

 

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Court upholds decision to revoke Belorus director Epifanov's Lithuanian residence permit

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – A court has upheld the Migration Department's decision to strip Ilya Epifanov, a Belarusian citizen and head of the Minsk-owned Belorus sanatorium in Lithuania's southern resort town of Druskininkai, of his Lithuanian residence permit.

 

"The Regional Administrative Court has rejected the applicant's appeal," Sigita Gamuleniene, spokeswoman for the court, told BNS.

 

The residence permits was revoked in December for national security reasons, and Epifanov was not allowed to enter the country before Christmas and subsequently appealed.

 

Epifanov is now working remotely, his deputy Dzema Kisiel told BNS. Following the court ruling, the founder of the sanatorium, the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium Treatment of the Population of Belarus, will decide on whether Epifanov will be able to continue managing the facility.

 

"The founder will decide on the manager. Next week (this week - BNS), maybe they will say everything," she said, adding that she has not spoken to Epifanov about his plans.

 

Up until mid-June 2021, Belorus was owned by the Main Economic Office (GHU), directly subordinate to the Belarusian president's administration and led by Viktor Sheiman, who was put on the EU sanctions list more than a decade ago. But after his retirement in June 2021, the sanatorium was transferred to the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium Treatment of the Population of Belarus under Alexander Lukashenko's order.

 

Figures from Lithuania's social insurance fund SoDra who that 185 people work at the Belorus sanatorium.

 

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FSRU Independence returns to Lithuanian seaport after dry docking in Denmark 

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's Independence floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) returned to the seaport of Klaipeda on Sunday after around a month of inspection and repairs in a dry dock in Denmark, according to the vessel tracking websites Marinetraffic, Vesselfinder and Myshiptracking.

 

KN Energies (formerly Klaipedos Nafta), the Klaipeda LNG terminal's operator, said in early May that the FSRU had not yet undergone a dry-dock inspection.

 

The operator said the vessel had been sent to Denmark because it requires a large dock, which is not available in Klaipeda. 

 

The inspection of the Independence was planned to involve renewing the anti-corrosion coating of the hull and carrying out other periodic maintenance work.

 

On Monday, KN Energies plans to unveil a special symbol on the vessel, dedicated to the country's energy independence.

 

While the Independence was undergoing maintenance in Denmark, Lithuania was supplied with natural gas through the Lithuania-Poland Gas Interconnection (GIPL) and from Latvia's Incukalns underground gas storage facility.

 

 

 

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Iceland's Play Airlines launches Vilnius-Reykjavik flights 

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Iceland's low-cost Play Airlines launched direct flights between Vilnius and Reykjavik on May 25, Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU) said. 

 

"We offer very competitive fares in the countries where our airline operates," it quoted Einar Orn Olafsson, the carrier's CEO, as saying in a press release. 

 

"We expect to further help strengthen the connection between Lithuania and Iceland this summer," he said. 

 

According to the airline, passengers will be able to use the service for flights between Iceland and the United States and Canada. It operates modern Airbus A320 or Airbus A321neo aircraft.

 

Flights between Vilnius and Reykjavik will initially operate once a week, on Saturdays. 

 

Play Airlines has an office in Vilnius, which performs part of the company's administrative functions.

 

 

 

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Fear of stopping Russia is invitation to Russia to act in our countries – Landsbergis

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS - The fear of stopping Russia is an invitation for Russia to act in our countries, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says as he's attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

 

"I think that currently the biggest problem of almost all the questions that we are solving is our fear. That we afraid of what Russia might think, of how Russia might react, of how Russia might act, and at this point our fear looks like it's an invitation, not only an invitation to act more fiercely in Ukraine with the heinous attacks against civilian objects, destroyed supermarkets, killed children and women and innocent people, but also an invitation to act in our countries and we're talking about hybrid activity in the Baltic region, in Poland and other countries," he told reporters in Brussels.

 

Russia is ready to mastermind organized acts of sabotage or even "terrorist acts" in NATO countries, Lithuania's top diplomat says.

 

A Russian strike on a DIY store in Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday killed 16 people and injured another 43.

 

Landsbergis say Russia's actions may be the result of its calculation that "we are not going to react strongly". And the appropriate response would be to allow Ukraine to use its weapons as it sees fit. 

 

On Monday, EU ministers will also discuss EU military aid, security commitments to Ukraine, new sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and the use of frozen Russian assets. However, Hungary's position makes it difficult to reach a consensus as the country earlier delayed the adoption of a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine, and its right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban is Russia's closest EU ally.

 

The EU should start viewing Hungary's actions in blocking EU initiatives as a "systemic approach", Landsbergis says.

 

"It's not case by case and we have to start talking about this. I know that it's it might look as a non diplomatic thing to do in some cases... But I think it has gone very, very far," he said.

 

The Council will also be briefed on latest developments in Georgia where lawmakers adopted a controversial "foreign influence" law in early May, which critics say will silence opposition groups and steer the country away from a pro-Western course towards Russia. Thousands of people protested in Georgia against the law.

 

It was subsequently vetoed by President Salome Zourabichvili, but the ruling Georgian Dream party has a solid majority in the parliament and is expected to override the president's veto.

 

"I think that the best decision that could come out of the meeting today is that there would be an update, a public update on EU's Georgia's relations and on Georgia's EU path. I think current events have to be reflected and I hope that there would be a very clear signal from the EU that if the law is adopted in its final version, Georgia can no longer continue on its EU path," the Lithuanian foreign minister said.

 

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Lithuanian PM's election defeat down to lack of campaigning – Freedom Party leader

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS - Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte's presidential election defeat was due to her ties with the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, as well as a lack of campaigning, Ausrine Armonaite, leader of the Freedom Party, part of the ruling bloc, says.

 

"The prime minister's result was partly predicted by various political analysts. Apparently, the HU-LCD weight and the lack of campaigning influenced the election result," she told BNS on Monday, commenting on the presidential election results.

 

According to initial data from the Central Electoral Commission, Simonyte received 24 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential election run-off, and incumbent President Gitanas Nausėda got 74 percent.

 

Armonaite also congratulated Nauseda on his re-election and wished him to be more open on human rights issues.

 

She's skeptical about Nauseda's desire to reshuffle the government when it returns its powers to the new president, despite the fact that only a few months will be left until the general election.

 

"The president has received a new mandate, and the government can freshen up a bit. I can only say from practical point of view, from practical experience, that there is very little time left until the general election. In order to complete important work, the search for new ministers will simply lose important time for Lithuania," Armonaite told BNS on Monday.

 

"Nobody is holding on to any chairs or positions, apparently the most important thing is to work for the people of Lithuania, to make changes, to make Lithuania safer, to make the economy stable, to make wages grow. Maybe when the president will elaborate, it will be possible to comment more," she said.

 

Armonaite stressed that the real changes should take place not in the summer, but in the fall after the Seimas election. On the other hand, the Freedom Party leader admitted that the vote of confidence in the prime minister in the Seimas could be a test for the ruling coalition.

 

The ruling coalition, which includes the conservative HU-LCD, the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party, now has 72 out of 141 seats in the Seimas.

 

By Jūratė Skėrytė

 

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NATO jets scrambled once to patrol Baltic airspace, twice to intercept Russian planes

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – NATO's fighter jets were scrambled once last week to patrol the airspace along the Baltic borders with Russia and Belarus, and took off twice to intercept 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-20 reconnaissance aircraft on its way from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad on May 20, and an AN-26 transport plane flying in the opposite direction on May 23.

 

Neither of the Russian aircraft had a pre-filed flight plan. Both of them maintained radio communication with the Regional Traffic Control Center, and one had its onboard transponder on.

 

On May 23, NATO's air policing aircraft flew patrols in the Baltic Sea

 

The NATO Baltic air policing mission is carried out from Lithuania and temporarily from Latvia as Estonia's Amari air base is undergoing reconstruction and infrastructure upgrades. 

 

 

 

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Lithuania's fertilizer producer Lifosa plans to resume operations 

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's sanction-hit phosphate fertilizer manufacturer Lifosa said on Monday that it is preparing to restart production after a one-year hiatus, adding that the continuity of operations will depend on various economic, operational, and legal circumstances. 

 

"The possibilities for a smooth return of Lifosa's advanced products to the market have been ensured now," it said in a statement. 

 

The plant in Kedainiai, in central Lithuania, has not resumed operations since it was shut down for annual scheduled maintenance in May 2023.

 

The last time Lifosa planned to restart production was in March. 

 

Vitalijus Varnas, chairman of Lifosa's independent trade union, then told BNS that he had heard from the management that final decisions on the company's future operations were "a matter of days rather than weeks or months", but that this would depend mainly on whether the banks would not suspend the company's payments.

 

S&P Global reported last year that Lifosa's shareholders, who had planned to temporarily mothball the Lithuanian plant from October 2023, were looking to restart production and resume nitrogen phosphates deliveries to global customers. 

 

The plant currently employs 882 people, based on data from the state social insurance fund Sodra.  

 

Lifosa's accounts were frozen after the EU imposed sanctions on Andrey Melnichenko, a Russian oligarch close to the Kremlin, on March 9, 2022.

 

Lifosa is 100 percent owned by Swiss-registered EuroChem Group, which is 90 percent owned by AIM Capital, a Cyprus-based company that was owned by Melnichenko before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and whose current beneficiary is his wife Alexandra. Both are on the EU's list of sanctioned persons. 

 

 

 

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Lithuania: Jonava District mayor found guilty of abuse, misappropriation

 

KAUNAS, Lithuania, May 27, BNS - The regional court in Lithuania's second-largest city of Kaunas on Monday found Jonava District mayor Mindaugas Sinkevicius guilty of abuse of his official position, the falsification of a document and misappropriation, fined him and banned him from holding any state position for three years.

 

The former president of the Lithuanian association of local authorities had been found guilty of all three offenses, Judge Laima Seputiene said on Monday. He was fined 12,500 euros and banned from being elected or appointed to state and municipal positions for three years.

 

The sentence can be appealed to the Lithuanian Court of Appeal within 20 days.

 

According to the court, Sinkevicius' guilt has been proven in full and his actions have caused Jonava District Municipality material and non-material damage of 1,487 euros as "the trust in this institution was undermined, its authority within the society was undermined, and the trust in him as a state politician was undermined".

 

Sinkevicius vows to appeal and has no plans to resign.

 

"This ruling is not the end of the matter, it is probably an interim ruling, and once we get acquainted with the material of this case and the reasons for this ruling, we will consider appealing it," Sinkevicius told reporters after the verdict was read out.

 

The court ruled that Sinkevicius' arguments that he had mistakenly included his personal bills into his councilor bills, as well as that his wife used one of the four telephone numbers paid for with funds allocated for a councilor's official activities was an attempt to avoid criminal liability.

 

Before the case was opened, Sinkevicius paid back 4,015 euros into the municipal budget, claiming that his personal Telia Lietuva bills were accidentally paid with his official funds.

 

In November 2023, the politician suspended his membership of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and his powers as president of the association of local authorities.

 

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Lithuanian parlt speaker, six counterparts urge Tbilisi to repeal 'foreign agent' law

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen and her counterparts from six countries have urged Tbilisi to repeal the so-called "foreign agent" law.

 

In their joint letter, the speaker of the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and France wrote to Shalva Papuashvili, speaker of the Georgian parliament, that the "spirit and content of the draft law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, adopted by Georgia’s parliament, are incompatible with European norms and values".

 

"The law as it stands seeks to silence media and civil society organizations that play a vital role in a democratic society and are instrumental in helping Georgia on its path to the EU," the joint letter reads.

 

Despite mass protests, the Georgian parliament adopted the so-called "foreign agent" law In mid-May. The law requires NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents".

 

The country's President Salome Zourabishvili has already vetoed the law, but an initiative to override her veto is making its way through the parliament.

 

Critics have condemned the law, saying it is similar to the one in place in Russia, which is being used to silence Moscow's critics. Brussels says the adopted law is incompatible with Georgia's long-standing ambition to become an EU member.

 

"Georgia's efforts to join the EU were recognized when it was given the opportunity to start the accession negotiations. However, laws like this one and violence against demonstrators are completely incompatible with European intentions. So we called for the decision to be reversed", Cmilyte-Nielsen said.

 

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Lithuanian ForMin extends condolences over deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea

 

VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's Foreign Ministry on Monday extended its condolences over a devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea that buried more than 2,000 people alive.

 

"Our deepest condolences to the people of Papua New Guinea following the devastating landslide. We wish strength to the rescue services in their search efforts and swift and successful recovery for all those affected," the ministry posted on X.

 

AFP reports that more than 2,000 people are feared buried in the landslide that destroyed a remote highland village, the government said Monday, as Papua New Guinea pleaded for international help in the rescue effort.

 

Papua New Guinea has one of the wettest climates in the world, and research has found shifting rainfall patterns linked to climate change could exacerbate the risk of landslides.

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 278, 2024

 

VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

 

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with Moldovan Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi at 12.05 p.m.

 

DEFENSE MINISTER Laurynas Kasciunas to attend a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on defense issues.

 

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to attend a meeting of Nordic-Baltic justice ministers.

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