Honorary Consulate of Republic of Lithuania in Tanzania

Weekly News from Lithuania, November 13

POLITICS

L. Linkevičius: Lithuania will continue actively supporting rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association

On 12 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius took part in the high-level webinar dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

„10 years ago, the Human Rights Council adopted a consensual resolution on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Over the decade, its importance has grown even further, as the challenges to these freedoms are increasing“, - the Minister said.

On 9 November, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) elections took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Professor Dalia Leinartė, a candidate of Lithuania, was elected for the period 2021-2024 along with representatives of Australia, the Bahamas, China, France, Ghana, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, and the Philippines.

On 5 November, Lithuania officially submitted its application to host the European Commission to host the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Vilnius. Lithuania is ready to provide a strategic and symbolic location for the ECCC – the premises of Vilnius TV Tower with an exceptional information technology (IT) communication infrastructure. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, Lithuania’s growing and active cyber and IT ecosystem would significantly contribute to a comprehensive and autonomous European Cybersecurity Competence Network.

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Baltic Sea Tourism Forum opens

The 13rd Baltic Sea Tourism Forum (BJTF) was launched on 10 November. It is one of the events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The four-day forum will discuss the current tourism situation in the Baltic Sea Region, possible actions and initiatives aimed to overcome unforeseen challenges; it will also cover the importance of sustainable, smart and local tourism, etc.

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

The new strategy for Presenting Lithuania Abroad was announced as City, Nation, Place Branding Awards winner of Best Use of Data category | Credits @ Lithuania.lt

HELLA further expands its electronics plant in Lithuania

The internationally positioned automotive supplier HELLA is further expanding its electronics plant in Lithuania. The plant in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone started production of various electronic components in August 2018. At present, sensors and actuators, as well as photoelectronic components, are manufactured at the site and more than 180 employees are employed.

With a rapid increase in COVID-19 infections in Lithuania and the world, Utenos trikotažas of the SBA Group joined efforts with the Swiss textile innovation company HeiQ and successfully applied its revolutionary HeiQ Viroblock technology to its textile manufacturing. This unique technology has been proven 99.99% effective against SARS-CoV-2 - the strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease COVID-19, the company informs

National and EU funds aimed at alleviating the negative impact of COVID-19 have opened up a significant opportunity to accelerate the modernisation of Lithuania’s economy. The ways to achieve this goal as well as potential challenges are presented today at the Bank of Lithuania’s virtual economics conference “Harnessing Investment and Innovation: Getting on the Fast Track”.

RETAL Baltic Films, which manufactures food-grade APET film and closures at the Klaipeda Free Economic Zone, has completed a €1m laboratory expansion investment project. The renewed lab allows the company to imitate the food and beverage packaging processes of its brand-name customers while utilising the packaging elements it produces, helping to bring innovative packaging solutions to market sooner.

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CULTURE & HISTORY

Lilly and Pine – life of Lithuania’s women anti-Soviet partisans

While the armed anti-Soviet fight lasted until in1953, some women partisans kept their stories of resistance secret until Lithuania regained independence in 1990.

Genutė Griškevičiūtė-Steponavičienė, now 92 years old, said there was little hope at the time that Lithuania could ever become independent.

In 2020, the Lithuanian Culture Institute funded a record number of new translations. This year, 135 thousand euros have been distributed for 46 translations of books and 35 excerpts into foreign languages - 75 thousand in the Spring and 60 thousand at the end of October.

The famous observation deck of Vilnius TV Tower is closed during the winter season, but the curious can use the opportunity to discover the building’s little-seen interior.

The 326.4-metre TV tower is the tallest structure in Lithuania and one of the symbols of its capital, Vilnius. At 165 metres above the ground, the tower houses an observation deck and a restaurant on a rotating platform.

The ensemble of Pažaislis Church and Monastery has reached the final stage of the EUFCN (European Film Commissions Network) Location Award and now is competing for the first place with four other locations in Europe – Banská Štiavnica in Slovakia, Lake Curon on the Tyrol border between Austria and Italy, Moritzburg Castle in Germany and the Prilep region in northern Macedonia.

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Until November 15

European film forum SCANORAMA

Annual European film form is back and online. We promise the most interesting European film news, the most promising film debuts, the bravest experiments and, of course, the best Lithuanian films! This year we will invite you to watch the films not only in the cinemas, but also in your home.

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November 13-15

What a Jazz Festival 2020

What a Jazz Festival - a jazz dance and music festival happening online and hopefully offline in Vilnius, Lithuania. Classes and lectures with inspiring teachers and educators and a hot band.

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Highlight of the Week

New reality of multilateral meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vilnius
Photo credits @ MFA / J. Azanovas

Nov 16 2020

POLITICS

Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius: Lithuania remains a strong supporter of North Macedonia's European integration

On 30 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius participated in a virtual meeting with Bujar Osmani, who has recently taken office as North Macedonia's Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Ministers discussed possibilities for strengthening bilateral cooperation, North Macedonia’s EU aspirations, the situation in the Western Balkans, as well as other relevant issues of regional security and cooperation.

A mobile application notifying users if they've been in close proximity to someone with the coronavirus has been launched in Lithuania.

“It warns users that over the past 14 days they have been in very close contact with another app user for more than 15 minutes and that that person has voluntarily reported their infection with the coronavirus. Alongside the notification, the app also provides recommendations on what action could help stop further spread of the virus,” the app description reads.

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BUSINESS & SCIENCE

The largest startup accelerator in the Baltic states is now more than 1300 strong

Tesonet, which has now become the largest IT product accelerator in the Baltic states has now grown its ecosystem to more than 1300 people. Contrary to popular belief, developing world-renowned products requires more than developers and customer success managers.

Believe it or not, a cash-for-clunkers plan helped get old and polluting cars off the road, replacing them with efficient and traffic-reducing personal electric vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters.

Perhaps it’s not so shocking for Lithuanians, who jumped at the opportunity to swap their old cars for new e-bikes.

The program was developed by Lithuania‘s Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA), part of the country’s Ministry of Environment.

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airBaltic sets up branch in Lithuania

Latvian airline Air Baltic Corporation (airBaltic) is establishing a branch in Lithuania. The company says it has to do with its plans to expand Lithuanian's global connectivity, informs LETA/BNS.

"This winter, the air company hopes to connect Vilnius with eight destinations through direct flights," the company told BNS.

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Rail Baltica – Connecting Europe

Up until now the railroad network of the three Baltic countries and Finland had a wider standard rail than the European Union. That is why our region in Europe remains a separate railroad transport infrastructure island.

By implementing the strategic project Rail Baltic together with our partner countries we strive to create a European railroad infrastructure and a logistical chain oriented towards higher-quality passenger travel and cargo delivery services between Baltic countries, Poland, and other European Union countries.

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CULTURE & HISTORY

Designed in Kaunas: Adaptive Capsules for Pandemic and Post-pandemic World

The design workshop was part of Kaunas Design Event and attracted twenty-three teams.

At the end of October, Kaunas witnessed its first Design Event initiated by the creative team of Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022. One of the key happenings of the event was a workshop for a design object – an adaptive capsule. The workshop was organised together with the Kaunas branch of the Architects’ Association of Lithuania.

Today for the 14th time begins the International Film Festival for Young Audiences Filem‘On, in Brussels, and this year it is particularly welcoming to Lithuanian filmmakers’ films. Lithuania is the featured guest at the festival and as many as seven Lithuanian films for younger viewers will be screened at the festival this year.

The Bank of Lithuania issues into circulation the €2 commemorative coin dedicated to the Hill of Crosses – a unique and world-famous Lithuanian sight. The mintage of the coin is 500,000 pcs and it is legal tender throughout the euro area.

All Souls’ Day or the Day of the Dead (Lith. vėlinės) on November 2nd is a day to honour all the departed people. Visiting graves, lighting candles and praying for the dead are the most common practices on this day. The feast has pagan roots, and earlier was known by the name Dziady.

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November 12-22

edTech_Hackathon

Can you #crackthecode? EdTech Hackathon is back!
Join the event and spend the weekend hacking and reshaping the way children, teens, and adults learn about the world around them!

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GLOBAL LITHUANIA

Lithuanian Embassy in China invites to a photo exhibition by Antanas Sutkus Planet Lithuania

Jump for freedom: The stranger-than-fiction tale of Lithuanian defector Simas Kudirka

November 23, 1970, was supposed to be a relatively ordinary day for the US coast guard cutter Vigilant, but the day's events would soon involve Richard Nixon, lost careers, and a daring escape. Emerging Europe, partners of LRT English, recall the events depicted in a new film The Jump.

The Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania announced the final results of the Parliament elections. The central-right party, Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats, will hold the new Parliament’s largest number of seats. Women will occupy one-third of the total number of parliamentary seats, and additionally, women lead all three parties forming the new ruling coalition. The unprecedented leadership of women goes hand in hand with the fact that for the first time, Lithuanians residing abroad had a chance to elect a dedicated Parliament member in the newly formed Lithuanian World Constituency, and this became a real sensation.

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