LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, April 3, 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
Swedish PM visiting Vilnius
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon visiting Lithuania
Lithuanian foreign minister to attend NATO meeting in Brussels
Lithuanian president calls for EU internal market for defense products, services
European Council chief in Vilnius: EU must do more for Ukraine, including military aid
EU restrictions would prevent Russian vegetables from entering Lithuania – vicemin
Lithuanian prosecutors uphold refusal to probe alleged corruption in defense system
Lithuanian president expects Norway's contribution to rotational air defense
Lithuanian prosecutors uphold refusal to probe alleged corruption in defense system (expands)
Lithuania's 2023 budget deficit estimated at 1 percent of GDP or less – vicemin
Lithuanian, Swedish PMs discuss regional security, support for Ukraine, cooperation
Lithuanian govt proposes recalling Bajarunas as UK ambassador from mid-April
At least 2 Lithuanian MPs targeted by US-indicted Chinese hackers - BNS THEME
Rheinmetall's decision on Lithuanian plant expected soon – vice-minister
First German brigade troops to arrive in Lithuania next week
Wizzair cancels some flights from Lithuania
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 4, 2024

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Apr 03, 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 Wednesday morning.

Latvia reported 47 attempts at illegal border crossings on Tuesday, and 227 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Monday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuanian border guards have turned away a total of 145 migrants so far this year.

A total of 2,643 irregular migrants were barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places last year, down from 11,211 in 2022.

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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Swedish PM visiting Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is visiting Vilnius on Wednesday.

Kristersson is to meet with his Lithuanian counterpart, Ingrida Simonyte, to discuss regional security and the need to strengthen and accelerate support to Ukraine.

The two prime ministers are also expected to discuss Nordic-Baltic cooperation in security, energy, and the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, as well as the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden, the government has said.

Kristersson has been heading the Swedish government since October 2022.

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Norway's Crown Prince Haakon visiting Lithuania

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Crown Prince Haakon of Norway is paying a visit to Lithuania on Wednesday.

President Gitanas Nauseda will host Haakon at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius to discuss bilateral relations, Norway's contribution to bolstering Lithuania's security, and defense cooperation.

The two will later travel to Rukla in the central district of Jonava to meet with Norwegian troops stationed there as part of NATO's multinational forward presence battalion.

Haakon is also to visit the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius, established at the initiative of the First Ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine, and meet with Diana Nausediene.

The Norwegian prince last visited Lithuania in 2018 and met with the then President Dalia Grybauskaite.

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Lithuanian foreign minister to attend NATO meeting in Brussels

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Lithuania's Gabrielius Landsbergis is taking part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday as the military alliance marks its 75th anniversary.

NATO's foreign ministers "will discuss preparations for the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., on 9-11 July, allied support for Ukraine, threats posed by Russia, challenges arising from the South, and the Alliance’s engagement in the region", the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

Brussels will also host a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, during which Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba "will present the country’s most urgent defensive needs, discuss the situation in the country, allied support and the implementation of priority reforms on Ukraine’s NATO membership path", according to the press release.

"A meeting of the North Atlantic Council with Indo-Pacific Partners, including representatives of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the European Union, will focus on the security situation in the region and the strengthening of cooperation on hybrid threats, cybersecurity, technology, etc.," it said.

Meetings of the Nordic and Baltic (NB8) foreign ministers and a meeting of the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian top diplomats with their German counterpart are also scheduled in Brussels.

On Thursday, foreign ministers will attend a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the signing of NATO's founding treaty in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949.

Sweden is taking part in the NATO foreign ministers' meeting as a full-fledged member for the first time after formally joining the Alliance on March 7.

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Lithuanian president calls for EU internal market for defense products, services

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Tuesday called on the European Union to establish an internal market for defense products and services and ensure a balanced distribution of defense production capacities across Europe.

Nauseda made the remarks after hosting European Council President Charles Michel and leaders from four EU member states in Vilnius for a discussion on the bloc's Strategic Agenda.

"The EU needs to create an internal market for defense products and services, rebuild and increase the capacity of the defense industry, and ensure a balanced geographical distribution of production capacities, especially in border countries," the Lithuanian president said in a press release.

"We also need to promote joint procurement and bring transatlantic partners and Ukraine into our supply chains," he said.

Nauseda said that supporting Ukraine until victory should be at the top of the agenda, as the war in Europe affects all EU sectoral policies and requires additional resources.

The president also emphasized the need to complete the process of European unification.

"We need to convene an intergovernmental conference with Ukraine and Moldova and start negotiations on their EU membership as early as this June," he said.

On the challenges of migration policy, Nauseda said that the focus should now be on securing the EU's external borders, combating the instrumentalization of migration and working with countries of origin.

Discussions on the EU Strategic Agenda will also take place in Warsaw, Rome and Bucharest in April.

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European Council chief in Vilnius: EU must do more for Ukraine, including military aid

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – European Council President Charles Michel sees stepping up support for Ukraine, including military assistance, as a top priority of the EU's next political cycle.

Michel, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and leaders from four other EU member states discussed the priorities of the EU's new political cycle, which will start after the European Parliament elections in June, in Vilnius on Tuesday.

The European Council president described the EU's decisions to grant candidate status to Ukraine and approve a financial aid package for the war-ravaged country as historic.

"But this is not enough. We need to do more, including military support for Ukraine," he said.

Michel warned that "we are facing incredible difficulties and challenges" and emphasized that supporting Ukraine and beefing up European defense are among the top priority areas.

The official also highlighted the strengthening of Europe's economy and the promotion of democratic principles as priority areas.

"We'll never give up. We'll never divert from democratic principles. This is the core of this European project," he said.

Nauseda underlined the importance of continued support for Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for its crimes in Ukraine.

The Lithuanian president called for the use of frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine's economy.

"This is the most important challenge for all of us: we stay united, we continue to support Ukraine and stay strong as a global force," he said.

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EU restrictions would prevent Russian vegetables from entering Lithuania – vicemin

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – As Lithuanian vegetable growers claim that cucumbers and tomatoes grown in Russia are entering Lithuania through Belarus and Poland with falsified origin documents, Lithuania's agriculture vice minister says EU restrictions on the entry of such produce would prevent this from happening.

"The main problem is to prevent these goods from entering the EU. There is already free movement of goods within the EU and it is more difficult to control it as there are no border controls, so the main task is to restrict the entry of these goods into the common market," Vytenis Tomkus told Lithuania's public radio LRT on Wednesday.

He recalled that in March Lithuania, together with Latvia, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic, called on the European Commission to weigh in the possibility of restricting imports of food products originating in Russia and Belarus.

The Lithuanian Greenhouse Association said on Tuesday that Russian-grown vegetables, mainly cucumbers and tomatoes, were entering Lithuania through Belarus and Poland with falsified origin documents, and such produce is sold in Lithuania for prices that are several times lower than local produce or vegetables grown in Poland or Latvia.

"Most of the (Russian vegetables - BNS) is coming from Poland with falsified documents, and it is possible that some of our entrepreneurs do not even know that these are vegetables were grown in the Russian Federation as they arrive with Polish documents," Paulius Andriejavas, the association's board chairman, told the LRT radio on Tuesday.

Tomkus says there were no direct imports of cucumbers or tomatoes from Russia last year as mainly mushrooms, peas and cereals - mainly maize - were imported from Russia.

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Lithuanian prosecutors uphold refusal to probe alleged corruption in defense system

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – The Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office has upheld the Special Investigation Service's decision to open a pre-trial investigation into alleged corruption in the national defense system.

The office said on Wednesday that the decision is lawful and justified.

The anti-corruption agency informed the public of its refusal to launch an investigation last Thursday.

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Lithuanian president expects Norway's contribution to rotational air defense

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda expects Norway to join the implementation of the rotational air defense model.

"The rotational air defense model approved at the NATO summit in Vilnius must be implemented. I hope that Norway will contribute to its practical implementation as well," he said on Wednesday during Norway's Crown Prince Haakon's visit in Lithuania.

Lithuania has been asking NATO allies for some time to rotate ground-based air defense systems as part of the regional rotational air defense model agreed last year. The Netherlands announced last week that it would send Patriot long-range air defense systems to Lithuania for several weeks.

The president also highlighted Lithuanian-Norwegian cooperation in the economic, cultural, security and energy fields.

In his words, support for Ukraine remains a top priority and highlighted cooperation in the training of Ukrainian soldiers.

Nauseda also thanked Norway for the service of Norwegian troops in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence battalion battle roup in Lithuania. "The Norwegian troops in Rukla are a sign of solidarity and commitment to defend each other," he said.

"Our countries are committed to democracy, human rights and the rule of law," the Crown Prince said, adding that the relationship between Lithuania and Norway is strengthened by the Lithuanians living in Norway.

Later in the day, the Lithuanian president and the Crown Prince will travel to Rukla where Norwegian troops serving in the NATO eFP battalion are stationed.

The heir to the Norwegian throne will also visit the Ukrainian Center established at the initiative of the first ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine, and meet with Fist Lady Diana Nausediene.

The last time the Norwegian prince visited Lithuania was in 2018 when he met with President Dalia Grybauskaite.

By Greta Zulonaitė

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Lithuanian prosecutors uphold refusal to probe alleged corruption in defense system (expands)

Updated version: updates throughout

The office said on Wednesday that the decision is lawful and justified.

The SIS announced its decision not to launch an investigation last Thursday.

"The assessment of the collected data has established that MP Raimundas Lopata's actions when he sent official letters to the ministry, asking about the ongoing public procurement, as well as the actions of a foreign company when it invited representatives of the Ministry of National Defense to meet, do not show any signs of criminal offense," the prosecution service stated, adding that the Defense Ministry properly reacted to and managed the lobbying activities and corruption risks, and there was no reason to report them to pre-trial investigation authorities.

"This decision does not prevent pre-trial investigation institutions or the prosecution service from launching a pre-trial investigation upon receipt of specific information about possible corruption offenses," the prosecution service added.

The SIS started looking into the circumstances following public remarks by Arvydas Anusauskas, who stepped down as defense minister in mid-March, about alleged attempts to bribe national defense system employees and pressure related to public procurement.

Anusauskas said after handing in his resignation that he "had to close the door to companies" that tried to bribe national defense employees, adding that these companies "found their way into the Seimas".

Anusauskas later tried to soften his tone, saying that he was raising the issue of undeclared meetings between politicians and lobbyists.

When gathering additional information, the SIS questioned Anusauskas and his successor, Laurynas Kasciunas, former Deputy Defense Minister Vilius Semeska, Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite, and liberal MP Lopata.

Due to this situation, the work of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense is currently suspended as the absence of opposition representatives prevents the committee from electing a new chair. The position became vacant after ex-CNSD chairman Kasciunas was apointed defense minister.

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Lithuania's 2023 budget deficit estimated at 1 percent of GDP or less – vicemin

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS - The real 2023 government deficit is estimated at 1 percent GDP or less, Finance Vice Minister Mindaugas Liutvinskas says.

"Based on the Finance Ministry's calculations, we can see that the balance will definitely be significantly better than what was foreseen in the law, and it will definitely be lower than minus 4.9 percent (deficit – BNS). It is likely to be around minus one, slightly less," Liutvinskas told the Seimas Committee on Audit on Wednesday.

The approved 2023 budget includes a 4.9 percent of GDP government deficit, but it was forecast last October to reach 1.9 percent in real terms.

Lithuania's State Data Agency is scheduled to publish last year's deficit and debt figures on Friday.

This year's budget deficit is expected to reach 3 percent of GDP, in line with the Maastricht criterion.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian, Swedish PMs discuss regional security, support for Ukraine, cooperation

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte met with her Swedish Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius on Wednesday and discussed regional security, the need to strengthen and accelerate support to Ukraine, Nordic-Baltic cooperation in the areas of security, energy, and protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, as well as the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden.

Russia's actions clearly show that it remains a long-term threat, the Prime Minister stressed, which is why the NATO Allies' focus on strengthening collective defense and increased investment in defense must be an immediate priority, Simonyte underlined, according to the statement released by the government's press service.

"It is very important that we, all the countries backing Ukraine and its struggle for freedom, strengthen and expand our support - there is no better way to stop Russia, which continues to wage war and to aggression against the West," the Lithuanian prime minister said.

Lithuania and Sweden enjoy an active and dynamic economic relationship, but there is still significant untapped potential in innovative high-tech sectors. Improving the conditions for cooperation and business partnerships in these areas is one of the governments' objectives, the statement said.

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Lithuanian govt proposes recalling Bajarunas as UK ambassador from mid-April

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – The Lithuanian government has proposed to President Gitanas Nauseda to recall Eitvydas Bajarunas as the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom from mid-April after he was recalled to Vilnius for consultations five months ago because of irregularities and inadequate management.

Ministers backed the move on Wednesday, and now the president is expected to decide on the matter. If he approves the proposal, Bajarunas will be recalled from April 15.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said earlier that such a decision had already been agreed with Nauseda.

Last year, Bajarunas was accused of mobbing and abuse of office by embassy staff. Following an investigation, the Foreign Ministry's General Inspectorate found irregularities and proposed deciding on Bajarunas' suitability to head the embassy

In October, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis summoned the diplomat to Vilnius for consultations and urged him to resign. However, the ambassador rejected all accusations.

For its part, the presidential office questioned the Foreign Ministry's investigation and argued that an independent investigation should be carried out into the ambassador's conduct.

Bajarunas' situation was further aggravated by the conclusion of the Chief Official Ethics Commission in January that President Gitanas Nauseda and the ambassador's attendance of The Phantom of the Opera musical in London in spring 2023 was of a private nature, but was paid for by the embassy, therefore, both officials were found to have broken the law, which they disagreed.

Moreover, the government is proposing recalling Lina Viltrakiene as Lithuania's permanent representative to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development as of May 9. And Nerijus Aleksiejunas should be recalled as Lithuania's ambassador to France from August 1 as their terms of office expire.

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

By Augustas Stankevičius

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At least 2 Lithuanian MPs targeted by US-indicted Chinese hackers - BNS THEME

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – At least two Lithuanian parliamentarians have been targeted by Chinese state-linked hackers accused by the United States and the United Kingdom of a massive cyber-espionage campaign.

In an indictment unsealed last week against seven alleged Chinese hackers, the US Department of Justice said that the decade-plus intrusion activities "resulted in the confirmed and potential compromise of work and personal email accounts, cloud storage accounts and telephone call records belonging to millions of Americans".

The hackers targeted politicians in the US and other countries, and companies including American steel, energy and apparel, and clothing manufacturers. Among the targets were leading 5G mobile phone equipment and wireless technology providers, and even the spouses of senior US officials and lawmakers.

According to the indictment, the targets also included "every European Union member" of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). US officials gave no names, but IPAC members include Lithuania's Social Democratic MP Dovile Sakaliene and Conservative MP Zygimantas Pavilionis, a diplomat and chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Attacks on IPAC members were carried out in early 2021 through malicious emails. Once opened, the emails installed tracking software that gave the hackers access to the victims’ data, such as their IP addresses, browser types, and operating systems.

Both Sakaliene and Pavilionis told BNS that they believed Chinese hackers failed to hack into their accounts. However, examples from their colleagues show that such risks remain.

Thousands of emails

According to the Justice Department, the seven indicted Chinese hackers were part of APT31, a hacking group involved in Beijing's cyber espionage program run by China's Ministry of State Security from the central city of Wuhan.

US law enforcement officials believe that the aim of the "global hacking operation" was "to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets".

As part of the cyber-intrusion campaign that ran for around 14 years, APT31 sent more than 10,000 malicious emails that purported to be from prominent news outlets or journalists and appeared to contain legitimate news articles.

China has dismissed the hacking allegations by the US and the UK as "political maneuvering".

Tensions between Beijing and Washington over cyber espionage have been escalating recently, with Western intelligence agencies increasingly warning of alleged Chinese espionage.

In turn, Beijing has also begun to highlight alleged Western hacking operations.

'Risk remains'

Sakaliene, a member of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, says that she regularly receives suspicious emails. She remembers getting some of these in early 2021 as well.

"There have been spikes in the flow of fake emails, including during the period disclosed by the US authorities," the Social Democratic MP told BNS, adding that judging by the content, APT31 could have been among the senders.

Sakaliene noted that IPAC members had been regularly informed about cyber threats posed by China.

Although some of her colleagues' accounts were hacked, the politician believes she "perhaps managed to avoid some level of damage."

"The risk that I opened a wrong email remains, given the hurry and a very high flow," she said.

Sakaliene told BNS that she had asked Lithuania's authorities to check whether her devices were safe, but gave no further details.

Pavilionis called the attempts to hack into his account and those of other IPAC members "recognition of work" performed.

"Of course, I had all my computers checked as soon as I got the news. The computers are clean, because the Russians and everyone else have tried to attack us more than once," the MP told BNS.

"Our computers are constantly checked and I myself have had my computer checked by the Seimas services again," he added.

Pavilionis said that he never opens suspicious emails.

In response to the US information, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has urged the European Union and other democracies to "take joint action."

"In the face of PRC's malign cyber activities that target democratic institutions and elections, EU & other democracies have to take joint action. Naming those responsible, ensuring accountability and reducing dependencies are needed to strengthen our resilience," he posted on the X platform.

The IPAC has said in a statement that the campaign by the Beijing-linked hackers was not an attack on "any individual, a political party or the policy of any one government, or even continent".

"It was directed at politicians who represent the ideological and geographical breadth of the globe, united by one thing only: their willingness to confront the profound challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party," the alliance said.

"We will not be deterred from exercising our democratic freedoms," it added.

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Rheinmetall's decision on Lithuanian plant expected soon – vice-minister

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – German military industry giant Rheinmetall's final decision on the construction of a 155 mm artillery ammunition factory in Lithuania is expected in the near future, Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Karolis Zemaitis said on Wednesday.

"We hope to have final decisions within the coming weeks," he said.

The vice-minister was speaking to reporters after the Cabinet earlier on Wednesday approved a package of legislative amendments to enable major Western arms and ammunition producers, including Rheinmetall, to set up their production facilities in Lithuania as quickly as possible.

The draft amendments are yet to be approved by the parliament.

According to Zemaitis, Rheinmetall has not yet decided on the specific location for the factory, but several potential sites have been proposed to the company.

"There are no final decisions yet. It is likely that the company will make its investment decision already knowing the potential locations. Our agencies (...) are constantly working with the investor, presenting various potential locations," he said.

The vice-minister added that Rheinmetall expects "Lithuania to be flexible and swift in its decision-making as a state".

The official said that the proposed amendments, if adopted, would allow Rheinmetall and other defense industry companies to set up factories in Lithuania much faster.

He added that the German company has not yet decided on the financing model for the construction of the factory.

When asked how much investment such a factory would require, Zemaitis did not give a specific amount, but said it could be disclosed in the coming weeks after the discussions with the company are completed.

Vaidas Sabaliauskas, director of the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industry Association, has said that the state would have to invest at least 250 million euros in the project.

The legislative package would set out a procedure for when the construction of large-scale defense projects could begin without the usual building permit. However, it would be mandatory to obtain the permit before the construction is completed.

The proposed amendments to the Laws on Investment, Land, Territorial Planning, and Construction would allow the government to designate a major defense industry investment as a project of immediate importance for national security.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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First German brigade troops to arrive in Lithuania next week

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS – The first troops of Germany's brigade assigned to Lithuania are expected to arrive in Vilnius next week, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Alfons Mais, Chief of the German Army, is expected to come to Lithuania together with the brigade's initial command element comprising over 20 military personnel, it said.

The first troops "will be accommodated in Vilnius from where they will plan the further progress of the stationing and agreement of requirements set for Host Nation infrastructure", according to the ministry.

"The initial command element will increase in size by the end of the year and become responsible for the assistance in moving the rest of the Brigade to Lithuania," it said.

Germany has committed to deploying a heavy brigade with three maneuver battalions and all necessary enablers, including combat support units.

The brigade will be formed by existing and newly formed units. The 203rd Panzer Battalion based in North Rhine-Westphalia and the 122nd Armored Infantry Battalion currently based in Bavaria will be moved to Lithuania. The enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group stationed in Lithuania will be transformed into a multinational battalion and become an integral part of the brigade.

In total, around 5,000 military and civilian personnel are expected to be moved to Lithuania. Some of them will come with their families.

The brigade will be stationed in Rudninkai and Rukla, with logistical hubs to be additionally set up in other locations in Lithuania. The troops and their families will be accommodated in Vilnius and Kaunas.

Discussions on the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania started after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Berlin announced its concrete commitment last June. The aim is to beef up the security of Lithuania and the entire eastern flank of NATO.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Wizzair cancels some flights from Lithuania

VILNIUS, Apr 03, BNS - Hungarian airline Wizzair has cancelled six flight from Lithuania to European cities, including four from Kaunas and two from Vilnius, the madeinvilnius.lt website reported on Wednesday.

Wizz Air has cancelled scheduled flights from Vilnius to Nice and Reykjavik, and to Nice, Bergen, Alesund and Stavanger from Kaunas. The company says this is due to a planned engine check and assures that the changes will be temporary.

Londono is the only remaining Wizzair destination from Kaunas. This route is also operated by Ryanair.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 4, 2024

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, April 4, 2024.

VICE SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuleniene to meet Norway's State Secretary Maria Varteressian at 11.30 a.m.

DEFENSE MINISTER Laurynas Kasciunas to meet with Ukrainian Ambassador to Lithuania Petro Beshta at 10 a.m.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to pay a working visit to Zurich.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

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Apr 13 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuania turns away 9 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
European Council chief Michel, 4 EU countries' leaders to visit Vilnius
Lithuanian transpmin in Chile for talks on air connectivity with South America
Lithuania's Soviet dissident Sadunaite dies aged 85
More than half of Lithuanians are against sending troops to Ukraine
Lithuania denies starting deportation process for Karach's husband
Lithuanian MPs mull removing Russian-linked businesses from public procurement
Lithuanian intelligence says no comment yet on use of Havana Syndrome weapon in Vilnius
Ukrainian war refugees in Lithuania seek more mental help
Belarusian timber continues to enter Lithuania, EU – probe
Lithuanian bodies make no comment on use of Havana Syndrome weapon in Vilnius (updates)
Lithuania mulls easing construction rules in preparation for Rheinmetall project
Nuclear reactors just one way for stable electricity production in Lithuania – official
NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 6 times over Russian aircraft last week
Lithuania backs Rutte for NATO secgen – Nauseda
Negotiations with major NATO allies on rotational air defense underway – Nauseda
Nauseda expects Rutte to pressure members on defense funding after becoming NATO secgen (updates)
Usackas leaves Lithuania's Avia Solutions Group
Negotiations with major NATO allies on rotational air defense underway – Nauseda (expands)

Lithuania turns away 9 irregular migrants on border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away nine migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.

Latvia reported 16 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 172 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuanian border guards have turned away a total of 145 migrants so far this year.

A total of 2,643 irregular migrants were barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places last year, down from 11,211 in 2022.

The influx of irregular migrants to the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

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European Council chief Michel, 4 EU countries' leaders to visit Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – European Council President Charles Michel and leaders from four EU member states, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, are coming to Vilnius on Tuesday.

Gitanas Nauseda's office has said that the Lithuanian president and Rutte will meet to discuss "defense and security, the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, support for Ukraine, and current EU issues".

The outgoing Dutch prime minister is currently seen as the front-runner in the race to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO's secretary general, with backing from the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries. Experts believe that his visit to Lithuania is partly aimed at securing support from Vilnius.

Budapest says, however, that it will not support Rutte because of his past criticism of the Hungarian government.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has also said that he will run for NATO's leadership.

In Vilnius, Rutte will also take part in a discussion on the priorities of the EU's new political cycle, which will start after the European Parliament elections in June.

Michel and the leaders of Sweden, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are also expected to participate in the discussion.

Discussions on the EU's strategic agenda will also take place in Warsaw, Rome and Bucharest in April.

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Lithuanian transpmin in Chile for talks on air connectivity with South America

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – Lithuanian Transport Minister Marius Skuodis on Monday started a working visit to Santiago to discuss opportunities for facilitating air connectivity with the South America with his Chilean counterpart Juan Carlos Munoz Abogabir.

Skuodis and Abogabir are also expected to discuss the development of bilateral cooperation in maritime transport, logistics and innovation, and preparations for the International Transport Forum's (ITF) summit.

Chile will take over the ITF presidency from Lithuania in late May.

During his visit, the Lithuanian minister will also open the ITF's Latin America and Caribbean high-level meeting.

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Lithuania's Soviet dissident Sadunaite dies aged 85

papildyta nuo 2 pastraipos

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Nijole Sadunaite, a Soviet-era Lithuanian dissident and nun, died on March 31 at the age of 85.

An active anti-Soviet activist, Sadunaite was convicted by the Soviet regime in 1975 for reproducing and distributing The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania.

She chose the path of a nun after school and was sentenced to three years in a strict- regime corrective labor colony, followed by another three years of exile.

Upon her return to Lithuania, Sadunaite again became involved in the publication of The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, which led to further persecution by the Soviet security services.

On August 23, 1987, together with Antanas Terleckas, Vytautas Bogusis and Petras Cidzikas, she organized a rally at the Adamomas Mickevicius monument in central Vilnius to commemorate the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. The rally marked the public singing of the Lithuanian national anthem after decades of oppression.

Sadunaite received a number of state awards in Lithuania.

Lithuanian leaders have expressed their condolences on the dissident's death.

President Gitanas Nauseda called her a living symbol of a Lithuania that was enslaved during the Soviet occupation but which fought tirelessly for freedom.

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More than half of Lithuanians are against sending troops to Ukraine

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - More than half of people in Lithuania are against any deployment of Lithuanian forces to Ukraine as it's fighting against Russian invasion, according to a new poll by Vilmorus for BNS, conducted following French President Emmanuel Macron's recent deliberations on the possible deployment of Western troops to Ukraine.

Almost 56 percent said they were against the deployment of troops, about 15 percent back the idea and, but only if the allies do so as well, and a similar share support the deployment of troops but only in order to train Ukrainians.

3.5 percent support the participation of Lithuanian forces in military action in Ukraine.

Speaking about Western support for Ukraine, Macron said in late February he would not rule out the possibility of sending allied troops to Ukraine in future.

His statements, however were later rejected by some Western partners. At the time, Lithuanian officials said they were considering sending troops to Ukraine to train Ukrainians, but for the time being support in the form of arms and ammunition remains the main priority.

Entangled in myths

Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas told BNS that the poll results should not have influence on the decision on sending troops to Ukraine, adding that the initiative is "entangled in myths" as it is essentially about training missions.

"There's no clear emphasis that we are talking about a training mission. If it was a training mission, it would be somewhere in western Ukraine and it would be protected by air defense systems. Therefore, I think that the communication aspect was missing," the minister pointed out.

"Decisions should not be made on popularity points. They have to be ones that help Ukraine win the war. We have to understand a very simple thing that if the Ukrainians break, they will come for us. We must not allow Ukraine to break"," he added.

The specific poll results:

People were asked:

After French President Emmanuel Macron said that Western countries should send troops to Ukraine, do you think Lithuania should do so?

The answers:

1. Yes, Lithuania should send troops to Ukraine to fight in the war - 3.5 percent.

2. Yes, Lithuania should send troops to Ukraine, but only for training missions - 14.9 percent.

3. Yes, Lithuania should send troops to Ukraine, but only if other Western countries do so as well - 14.5 percent.

4. No, Lithuania should not send troops to Ukraine - 55.6 percent.

5. I have no opinion - 11.5 percent.

The poll of 1,001 people in 26 cities and 47 villages was carried out on March 15-23. The maximum margin of error is 3.1 percent.

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Lithuania denies starting deportation process for Karach's husband

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – The Lithuanian Migration Department has denied starting the process of deporting Oleg Borshchevsky, the husband of Olga Karach, a prominent Belarusian activist who heads the Nash Dom (Our House) NGO, adding that it does not plan to send him out of the country.

"This is an attempt to create a fuss. I don't know for what purposes – whether for strategic purposes or for some deeper political purposes. But no, the deportation procedure has not been launched," Evelina Gudzinskaite, the department's director, told BNS.

Nash Dom said in a statement last week that the Migration Department had started the process of deporting Borshchevsky to Belarus.

According to the statement, Borshchevsky faces up to seven years in prison in Belarus because he is the editor of the Nash-dom.info website, which has been labelled as an "extremist organization" by the Minsk regime.

The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania last week upheld the Migration Department's decision not to grant the man asylum in Lithuania.

Following the ruling, which is final and not subject to appeal, the migration body sent a formal letter to Karach's husband, asking whether he agrees to leave Lithuania voluntarily and warning that a deportation decision will be taken if he does not.

Failure to extend residence permit

According to Gudzinskaite, Borshchevsky has submitted a new application to the Migration Department for a residence permit on the basis that his children live in Lithuania.

"He previously held a permit based on family reunification as a father, and now he has reapplied," she said. "The application is under review."

Gudzinskaite added that the department will process Borshchevsky's application within three months.

According to the director, the man currently lives in Lithuania illegally, because he failed to renew his residence permit in the hope of obtaining asylum.

"Formally, he should leave Lithuania, which he was told under the standard procedure. However, he reacted inadequately, stirred up a fuss, and refused to cooperate with the Migration Department or provide explanations why he cannot leave Lithuania," she said.

Gudzinskaite explained that typically, if a person subject to deportation does not agree to leave Lithuania voluntarily, their details are handed over to the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), which ensures that the person departs from the country.

"But the situation with Belarusian citizens is not standard. The department looks into whether it is safe to deport the person from Lithuania. In this case, we have not even come to a decision on deportation," the director said.

"The Migration Department has no plans to send the person out of Lithuania at the moment," she added.

Commenting on the decision to refuse asylum, Gudzinskaite said that Borshchevsky's asylum application was based on his wife's activities, but that the migration body takes asylum decisions based on individual circumstances.

Passport not returned

Borshchevsky's lawyer Rytis Satkauskas told BNS that the department did not accept documents to extend his client's residence permit while his asylum application was under review.

"We told that they would not extend the residence permit on the family basis, because (Borshchevsky) was an asylum seeker," he said.

According to the lawyer, the Migration Department also twice declined to return his client's passport "without providing any reasons."

"But at the same time, it said they that if the foreign national voluntarily left for his country, then might return (his passport)," he added.

Satkauskas said Borshchevsky would face prosecution in Belarus both for his and for Karach's activities.

"We will try to raise this situation further, either through Lithuanian courts or international mechanisms," the lawyer said.

Borshchevsky has been living in Lithuania since 2014.

Last August, the Migration Department denied Karach asylum, citing as the reason the State Security Department's conclusion that her residence in the country posed a national security threat due to her alleged ties with Russian intelligence.

However, the migration body then granted the activist a temporary residence permits in Lithuania on humanitarian grounds.

According to Satkauskas, Karach has turned to the European Court of Human Rights after unsuccessfully contesting the department's decision not to grant her asylum in Lithuanian courts.

The activist has been receiving residence permits in Lithuania since 2014.

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Lithuanian MPs mull removing Russian-linked businesses from public procurement

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers have received a proposal to allow removing Lithuanian and foreign suppliers from a government-approved list of supporters of the Russian war or businesses linked to them from public procurement.

The Seimas has registered such amendments to the Law on Public Procurement, signed by almost 20 MPs from the ruling and opposition parties.

MP Dalia Asanaviciute, the initiator of such amendments, told BNS there's currently no possibility to exclude Russian-linked businesses from public procurement in Lithuania.

"These companies produce or sell non-sanctioned goods, but they are building their capital in Russia and thus indirectly supporting the regime's war against Ukraine. Such companies are risky and undermine national security," she said.

The initiators say the amendments are being proposed in response to an analysis published in January by Stop Trading in Russia, an initiative group, showing that Autovici, a company linked to Viciunai Group, a group owned by the family of Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matioskaitis and put on the Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention's list of "International Supporters of War", has been awarded 104 contracts by state-owned companies, public establishments and institutions.

Viciunai Group CEO Sarunas Matijosaitis is Autovici's shareholder.

Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT has previously disclosed that the Defense Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defense signed a contract for the purchase of 235 vehicles for 6.5 million euros with Autovici in late October 2022.

The list of supporters of Russia's war would include citizens and companies if they indirectly contribute to Russia by operating in Russia or Belarus and paying taxes there, contributing to propaganda or mobilization campaigns, or otherwise indirectly encouraging Russia's military action.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian intelligence says no comment yet on use of Havana Syndrome weapon in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – The Lithuanian State Security Department (SSD) said on Tuesday that it has no comment yet on the use of a weapon causing so-called Havana Syndrome symptoms against a senior US official during last year's NATO summit in Vilnius, as revealed by a media investigation.

The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that a senior official who attended the Vilnius summit had symptoms similar to those reported by people who experienced Havana Syndrome.

"We currently have no comment on the mentioned information," the Lithuanian intelligence agency told BNS.

Havana Syndrome was first publicly reported in 2016 when US diplomats in Cuba's capital reported falling ill and hearing piercing sounds at night. This sparked speculation of an attack by a foreign entity using an unspecified sonar weapon.

The year-long joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS's "60 Minutes" news program "uncovered evidence suggesting that unexplained anomalous health incidents, also known as Havana Syndrome, may have their origin in the use of directed energy weapons wielded by members of (the Russian GRU) Unit 29155".

The Russian military intelligence unit is responsible for foreign operations and has been blamed for several international incidents, including the attempted poisoning of former double spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom in 2018.

Moscow on Monday dismissed these allegations as unfounded.

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Ukrainian war refugees in Lithuania seek more mental help

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – Ukrainian war refugees have started seeking mental help more often, and women are more likely to do so, says Mantas Jersovas, a psychologist at the Vilnius Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM Lithuania).

"What we notice is that they are much more active in asking for help and are staying. We have various types of therapy, they are continuous and involve seven to ten meetings, and people stay. Before, they used to come, drop out without even informing, and now we have certain stability," the psychologist told BNS.

In his words, when the organization started providing help in 2022, there was one therapy group, and about 10-12 people could register for it. Now the number of groups has grown to five.

Dozens more people have turned to the organization for mental help than last year.

"We had, for example, a children's camp and we had it full right away. We have therapy with dogs and we had a full group right away, on the first day," Jersovas said, adding that the number of people signing up for individual counseling has also increased.

The organization has a growing need for therapists and more of them are being hired.

Ukrainians aged between 30 and 50, mostly women, are turning to the organization for help, Jersovas said, and people talk about war, loss and guilt during the counseling sessions.

"The topic of war remains as these people are living through the war," the psychologist said.

Almost 60,000 Ukrainians live in Lithuania right now.

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Belarusian timber continues to enter Lithuania, EU – probe

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Belarusian timber is still entering Lithuania and other EU countries in circumvention of the existing Western sanctions against Belarus, investigators say. According to a study carried out by the Belarusian Investigative Center in cooperation with the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, official timber exports from Kazakhstan to Poland alone increased fivefold last year, from 14 million to almost 68 million euros.

"We can see that more than 120 million euros worth of timber is entering the European Union through Poland (from all third countries - BNS). Some of it enters Lithuania. The reason for this is that timber enters Poland, is checked at the border, and then goes on to Lithuania via the territory of the European Union where there are no controls. (...) Despite blocking the import of suspicious timber and by implementing the sanctions more effectively, Lithuania itself still receives such timber through the back door," Stanislau Ivashkevich, head of the Belarusian Investigative Center, told Lithuania's public radio LRT on Tuesday.

The investigators admit, however, that timber exports from Belarus to the EU have dropped significantly, from more than 1 billion euros before the sanctions were put in place.

Belarusian timber is being shipped "via Kazakhstan", and in fact comes from Belarus with forged documents, as evidenced by documents analyzed by the investigators, Ivashkevich said.

"A timber hauler from Belarus told us directly over the phone that the timber came from Belarus, not Kazakhstan. The shipper from Kazakhstan assured us that he knew this (Belarusian - BNS) company, that they had communicated and signed a memorandum, but then the company disappeared and the business failed. We can imagine that all this company needed was a contrahent from Kazakhstan to be able to stick fake stamps everywhere," Ivashkevich said.

In his words, new ways of circumventing the sanctions have also emerged as there is no longer a need to register companies exempt from VAT, "now all you have to do is to draw up documents and it works at the Polish border".

"Kazakhstan doesn't have a lot of forest. It's a big country but its forest cover only 4 percent of its territory. Kazakhstan imports its own timber, and the 4-5 percent of forests they have are steppe trees, half of which are not very suitable for industrial woodworking," Ivaskevich explained.

The investigation comes a year after a similar investigation in December 2022 found that Belarusian timber enters the EU via Kyrgyzstan.

"When we found out that Belarusian timber could be supplied to the EU as coming from Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania blocked imports of timber from Kyrgyzstan. That is where the good news ended. We continue to see strong growth of timber movement to the European Union from Kazakhstan," Ivashkevich said.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian bodies make no comment on use of Havana Syndrome weapon in Vilnius (updates)

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – Lithuania's authorities on Tuesday did not comment on the use of a weapon causing so-called Havana Syndrome symptoms against a senior US official during last year's NATO summit in Vilnius.

The incident was reported on Monday by a joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS's "60 Minutes" news program.

The Pentagon confirmed later on Monday that a senior official who attended the Vilnius summit had symptoms similar to those reported by people who experienced Havana Syndrome.

The Lithuanian State Security Department told BNS on Tuesday that it had no comment at the moment.

The Defense Ministry told BNS that it had no data on the incident and therefore "cannot comment in more detail, confirm or deny such assessments".

"In general, various methods and measures can be applied and used in the methodology of Russia's security and intelligence services, not excluding similar ones, to influence and intimidate their opponent," the ministry said.

The year-long joint investigation "uncovered evidence suggesting that unexplained anomalous health incidents, also known as Havana Syndrome, may have their origin in the use of directed energy weapons wielded by members of (the Russian GRU) Unit 29155".

Moscow on Monday dismissed these allegations as unfounded.

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Lithuania mulls easing construction rules in preparation for Rheinmetall project

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – The Economy and Innovation Ministry proposes to amend several laws to enable major Western arms and ammunition producers, including Germany's defense industry giant Rheinmetall, to swiftly relocate production to Lithuania.

The ministry has drafted a package of legislative amendments aimed, among other things, at allowing construction of large-scale projects, officially recognized by the government as meeting the state's urgent security and defense needs, to begin without the usual building permit.

Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite says the amendments target, among others, Rheinmetall, which has plans to build a 155 mm artillery ammunition factory in Lithuania.

"The Rheinmetall project could also benefit from these changes (...) and I hope it will when we develop it," she told BNS.

According to the ministry, the changing geopolitical situation requires developing Lithuania's defense industry capabilities and reducing its dependency on the import of weapons, ammunition and other military products.

The ministry says the proposed changes would help attract significant manufacturing projects that "would likely contribute to the defense capabilities not only of Lithuania, but also of the whole of Europe and Ukraine".

"This is a green corridor for major investments in defense and security," Armonaite said. "We are creating a new status and reducing the bureaucratic burden for investment projects of significance for Lithuania's security and defense situation."

The status would allow an investor to start building a factory for weapons, ammunition or other defense products without a building permit. However, it would be mandatory to obtain the permit before the construction is completed.

The government would exceptionally allow construction in non-urbanized areas without going through the usual territorial planning procedures with local municipalities. Investors would not be obliged to inform the public about the design process and involve them in the project design discussions. The requirement to make public information on the start of construction work would also be scrapped.

Among other things, the Economy and Innovation Ministry suggests introducing a single document, called a special-purpose project, to swiftly deal with land plot formation and other relevant issues.

"The proposed legal regulation will only be applied in exceptional circumstances, when it is necessary to ensure the country's security and defense needs, such as (...) uninterrupted access to the necessary weapons and ammunition for the Lithuanian Armed Forces," the ministry said.

According to Armonaite, under the current regulation, it takes between 2 and 2.5 years for arms or ammunition manufacturers to prepare the necessary territorial planning and other documents.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed plans to build a 155 mm artillery ammunition factory in Lithuania while presenting the company's 2023 results last month. He said another new plant would be built in Ukraine.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Nuclear reactors just one way for stable electricity production in Lithuania – official

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – The Energy Ministry's proposal to develop small nuclear power reactors in Lithuania after 2030 is only one of the ways to ensure stable electricity production in the future, Deputy Energy Minister said on Tuesday.

"The Energy Ministry is talking about the need for stable energy generation, not necessarily meaning nuclear energy," Zananavicius told LRT Radio.

"Nuclear power is just one of the options, because there are no other options today. If new groundbreaking technologies emerged, they would certainly be considered as well," he said.

The development of nuclear energy through the construction of small reactors is envisaged in the National Energy Independence Strategy until 2050, which was presented to the parliament last week.

According to Zananavicius, renewable resources alone will not be enough to meet Lithuania's growing electricity consumption and its goal of producing about 70 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually in the future.

"First of all, we might need nuclear or other stable energy sources for times when there is no sun or wind. Because (...) we must ensure in any case – whether there is wind and sun or not – that there is enough electricity. This is why the need for stable generation has not disappeared in any country," he said.

Osvaldas Ciuksys, president of the Nuclear Energy Association, stressed that modern nuclear technologies are safe and that the lifetime of nuclear reactors is much longer than that of solar or wind power plants.

"Even in the event of an accident, the reactor is automatically shut down and cooling is ensured, which prevents fuel meltdowns and other unfavorable and irreversible things," Ciuksys told LRT Radio.

"So, the likelihood of an accident is minimized, and we are talking about a completely different level of safety," he added.

According to the association's president, the cost of electricity produced in a nuclear reactor ranges from 50 to 60 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), making it competitive with that generated from renewable sources.

Both President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said last week that next-generation nuclear technology should be considered as an option.

Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said while presenting the new strategy that nuclear energy would reduce the burden of maintaining the energy system on industry and consumers.

For Lithuania to have a small nuclear reactor operational by around 2040, political decisions would have to be made between 2028 and 2030, he noted.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 6 times over Russian aircraft last week

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS – NATO's fighter jets policing Baltic airspace were last week scrambled six times to intercept Russian aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea in violation of flight rules, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

On Monday, March 25, NATO jets intercepted a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, alert scrambles were conducted over two SU30SM fighter jets flying from Kaliningrad and back.

On Sunday, the Alliance's jets took off to identify a TU-204 passenger plane on its way from the exclave to mainland Russia.

None of the Russian aircraft had a pre-filed flight plan, and most of them were not using their onboard transponders or maintaining radio communication with the Regional Traffic Control Center.

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 backs Rutte for NATO secgen – Nauseda

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Lithuania backs Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as a candidate for NATO secretary general, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at a joint press conference with the Dutch prime minister in Vilnius on Tuesday.

"Lithuania supports Rutte as a candidate for the position of NATO secretary general," the president told reporters.

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Negotiations with major NATO allies on rotational air defense underway – Nauseda

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Negotiations are underway with major NATO allies on the implementation of a rotational air defense model in Lithuania, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"I wouldn't want to be very specific right now about the countries we are working with. In fact, there are quite a few of them. I can only say that these are our major NATO allies," Nauseda told a press conference on Tuesday. "I very much hope we will have good news from this area as well in a few months."

By Greta Zulonaitė

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Nauseda expects Rutte to pressure members on defense funding after becoming NATO secgen (updates)

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hopes that Mark Rutte will push allies to step up their defense funding after becoming NATO's secretary general.

"We expect from the candidate for secretary general some encouragement and pressure on other NATO countries that have not yet reached the 2 percent of GDP level of defense spending to do so as soon as possible," the Lithuanian leader told a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rutte in Vilnius on Tuesday.

He stressed that 2 percent of GDP for defense "in the current circumstances, even as a minimum threshold, is too low and inadequate."

Earlier, Nauseda said that Lithuania backs Rutte as a candidate for NATO secretary general.

"Lithuania supports Rutte as a candidate for the position of NATO secretary general," the president told reporters.

Rutte is currently seen as the most realistic candidate to succeed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"He was one of those politicians who recognized the Russian threat very early on, who adapted and changed his attitude towards Russia very significantly. And who is extremely sensitive and aware of the threats to NATO's eastern flank," Nauseda pointed out, stressing the importance of having a candidate who understands that Russia's threats are long-term and not only military.

For his part, Rutte said that "it’s always been difficult to campaign for myself".

"It's crucial, first of all, that the Russia loses and Ukraine wins the war. Second, that eastern flank needs to be defended. And that's why we are part of many initiatives, particularly for the eastern flank," he said.

The United Kingdom, Germany and other countries have already expressed their support for the Dutch premier. Hungary, however, says it will not back Rutte as he has criticized the Hungarian government in the past.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has also expressed his desire to run for NATO secretary general.

Stoltenberg's term of office has already been extended several times in the absence of a new candidate.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Usackas leaves Lithuania's Avia Solutions Group

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Vygaudas Usackas is leaving Avia Solutions Group, an aviation group owned by Lithuanian businessman Gediminas Ziemelis, where he has been in charge of the company's expansion abroad, as he is setting up his own consultancy business, Usackas, a former foreign minister, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

"My consultancy company V.U. Business Linking LTD is launching operations and it will help global companies developing artificial intelligence, automation and big data solutions and other activities to expand into new markets and sell their products and services," Usackas said.

BNS has not been able to contact Usackas.

Usackas has served on ASG's board from September 2019 until January 2023 and since then been responsible for development projects in new markets.

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Negotiations with major NATO allies on rotational air defense underway – Nauseda (expands)

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Apr 02, BNS - Negotiations are underway with major NATO allies on the implementation of a rotational air defense model in Lithuania, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"I wouldn't want to be very specific right now about the countries we are working with. In fact, there are quite a few of them. I can only say that these are our major NATO allies," Nauseda told a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in Vilnius on Tuesday. "I very much hope we will have good news from this area as well in a few months."

Lithuania has for some time been asking NATO allies to rotate ground-based air defense systems as part of the regional rotational air defense model agreed last year.

The Netherlands announced last week it would send Patriot long-range air defense systems to Lithuania for several weeks.

Nauseda has called this an important step in the implementation of the rotational air defense model in the Baltic region, strengthening deterrence and defense.

"Other NATO allies can contribute to the security of our airspace with other air defense elements, not necessarily with Patriot systems," the Lithuanian president said.

"We will make sure of our fair share in the rotational system," Rutte said, adding that his country would seek to contribute more actively to the rotational air defense force.

Lithuania has discussed possible deployment of air defense capabilities in the region with the US, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.

Calls for 14th sanction package

Nauseda also called for increased pressure on Russia and the adoption of the EU's 14th sanction package against the country, and calls for steps to prevent the circumvention of the existing sanctions.

"Negotiations with Ukraine on its accession to the European Union should start in June, and we must take another step towards bringing Ukraine closer to NATO during the NATO summit in Washington in July," the Lithuanian president said.

Rutte says the Netherlands has provided aid to Ukraine, worth more than 2 billion euros, this year and has provided 6.3 billion euros since late February 2022.

"Like the Netherlands, Lithuania is relatively small in size, but have outsized impact of its efforts to counter Russia's aggression," Rutte said.

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Apr 13 2024

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