LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, April 11, 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024
Vilnius hosts Three Seas Summit with focus on transport, energy
Lithuanian MPs to vote on allowing purchase of defense components from China
Lithuania's amendments to allow buying components, not software, from China – official
8 out of 10 people in Lithuania would back ban on gambling advertising (media)
Zelensky arrives in Lithuania to partake in Three Seas Summit
Zelensky arrives in Lithuania, to partake in Three Seas Summit (updates)
Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius
Lithuania allows defense procurement of components from China, other unreliable countries (updates)
Private investments should replace EU ones in Three Seas region – Lithuanian president
Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius (corrects)
Initiatives to support Ukraine are loud, but need to be implemented - Zelensky in Vilnius
Lithuania's first Michelin-starred restaurants to be unveiled in June – minister
Zelensky in Vilnius calls for implementation of Western aid initiatives, wants air defense (expands)
Lithuania favors broad European consensus on recognition of Palestine – finmin
Ukraine's economy has to be 'built back better' – Lithuanian president
Lithuania expects Moldova's EU membership talks to start in early summer – PM
Seimas OKs acceleration of TEN-T projects (updates)
Strengthening defense must become an investment priority – Lithuanian PM
Lithuania sends anti-drones, generators, folding beds to Ukraine
A dozen EU leaders gather in Vilnius to discuss ties, listen to Zelensky's requests
Intermin: Lithuania ready as inflow of illegal migration up in Poland
Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO
Only political platform for peace talks is one proposed by Kyiv– Zelensky in Vilnius
Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO (expands)
Eastern, southern EU countries agree to improve infrastructure, connectivity

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, April 11, 2024:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to take part in the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum in Vilnius at 11 a.m.; to chair the Three Seas Initiative Summit at 1:30 p.m.; to take part in a press conference at 5 p.m.; to host an official dinner for Three Seas Initiative leaders at 6 p.m.

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

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean at 11 a.m.

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

MP Ieva Pakarklyte to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. on an initiative to restrict the right of companies operating in Russia to bid for public procurement contracts.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to meet with Recean at 11.45 a.m.

SOCIAL PROTECTION AND LABOR MINISTER Monika Navickiene to meet with Michael Landau, president of Caritas Europe, at 3:30 p.m.

TRANSPORT MINISTER Marius Skuodis to meet with Mirek Dusek, managing director at the World Economic Forum; to moderate a discussion at the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum at 1 p.m.

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Vilnius hosts Three Seas Summit with focus on transport, energy

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit is kicking off in Vilnius on Thursday, bringing together the region's leaders to discuss enhancing cooperation in transport, energy and cybersecurity.

Delegations from 25 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia, are expected to come to the Lithuanian capital for the event.

Asta Skaisgiryte, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy adviser, notes that the Three Seas region almost coincides with NATO's eastern flank, so relevant issues overlap.

"We are talking about better connectivity, transport, energy, and military mobility, about how to improve it and what transport corridors to plan, and about energy resource supply, and diversification," the advisor has told BNS.

"The summit will also address the protection of critical infrastructure, because past incidents at sea have revealed that it is not yet adequately safeguarded," she added.

Nauseda will chair the 3SI plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders. The summit will also feature a business forum.

"Energy, transport and cybersecurity are the key themes running throughout the Three Seas Summit and associated events," Skaisgiryte noted.

Lithuania currently chairs the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 13 EU member states bordering the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.

The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners, and Japan is expected to join it as a new strategic partner during the summit in Vilnius.

Security for the event is being provided by 400 Lithuanian military personnel, and traffic restrictions are in place in the center of the capital.

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Lithuanian MPs to vote on allowing purchase of defense components from China

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament is expected to decide on Thursday whether to allow defense industry companies to purchase components for drones or other products from manufacturers in China or other third countries if they cannot find reliable suppliers at favorable prices.

Under the proposed amendments to the Law on Public Procurement, goods intended exclusively for scientific research, experiments, studies, or experimental development purposes, or for support to foreign states would be exempted from the ban between May 2024 and May 2025.

The exemption would apply to contracting authorities operating in the field of defense, managing critical information infrastructure, those considered a part of strategically important economic sectors, or included in the List of Secure Network Users.

The parliament will also vote on amendments raising the threshold for verbal contracts in the field of national security and defense, awarded under simplified procurement procedures, to 15,000 euros, from 10,000 euros currently.

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Lithuania's amendments to allow buying components, not software, from China – official

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – If the Lithuanian parliament approves the government's proposed legislative amendments, defense industry companies will only be allowed to purchase components, not software, from China, Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Karolis Zemaitis said on Thursday.

The parliament is expected to vote on Thursday on whether to allow defense industry companies to purchase components for drones or other products from manufacturers in China or other third countries if they cannot find reliable suppliers at favorable prices.

"The proposal is very limited in scope; it's only about components, or what we call 'hardware', not about software," Zemaitis told LRT Radio ahead of the vote.

The vice-minister said the purchased goods would be intended solely for testing and for support to Ukraine, not for permanent use.

"Such exemptions would be temporary, because our main goal is to develop a local drone ecosystem – from hardware to software. This takes time," he said.

According to the official, the proposal was tabled "without much enthusiasm for the Chinese drone market".

"We have to get our drone ecosystem going very fast and (...) require certain components for that. But this proposal will be very limited and (the authorities) will be monitoring very closely the use of these drones," he said.

China currently dominates the drone production market, making Western countries reliant on it, Zemaitis noted.

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8 out of 10 people in Lithuania would back ban on gambling advertising (media)

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Eight out of ten people in Lithuania would support a total ban on gambling advertising in Lithuania, according to a Baltijos Tyrimai poll for the public broadcaster LRT, published on Thursday.

49 percent would fully support such a ban, while 31 percent would be more likely to support it. 12 percent would rather disagree and 3 percent would strongly disagree. 5 percent had no opinion or did not answer the question.

86 percent of women and 72 percent of men surveyed, as well as 82 percent of residents of major and other cities and 75 percent of residents of rural areas, were in favor of a total ban on gambling advertising.

People aged over 50 (84 percent) were more likely to back the ban, as well as and those earning a monthly income of up to 1,100 euros (85 percent).

The lowest level of support was recorded in the 18-29 age group (70 percent).

Baltijos Tyrimai polled 1,115 Lithuanian adults on March 15-25.

In March, the Seimas accepted for further consideration amendments tabled by Mindaugas Linge, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance, and a group of MPs from various political groups, proposing to ban gambling advertising completely. The Seimas will further consider these and other amendments on April 25, when they will be discussed by the Committee on Budget and Finance.

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Zelensky arrives in Lithuania to partake in Three Seas Summit

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Thursday and is set to meet a dozen of leaders from Central, Eastern and Southern European countries in Vilnius.

His plane landed at Vilnius Airport at around 10.45 a.m., according to a BNS photographer at the scene.

According to information available to BNS, Zelensky will attend the Three Seas Summit.

This is Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the beginning of the war, and his fifth in total. His last visit to Lithuania was in January when he visited all three Baltic states.

Kyiv calls Vilnius one of Ukraine's biggest supporters as the country has been fighting the Russian invasion for more than two years and is facing stalling US support.

Lithuania is a strong supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. In terms of economic size, Lithuania is among the largest contributors of military assistance to Ukraine.

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Zelensky arrives in Lithuania, to partake in Three Seas Summit (updates)

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Thursday and will meet a dozen of leaders from Central, Eastern and Southern European countries in Vilnius.

His plane landed at Vilnius Airport at around 10.45 a.m., according to a BNS photographer at the scene.

Zelensky will attend the Three Seas Summit. Before the event, he will meet with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda to discuss the situation on the frontline, the need for military and financial assistance, Ukraine's Euro-integration process and the prospects for NATO membership, the presidential press service said.

This is Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the beginning of the war, and his fifth in total. His last visit to Lithuania was in January when he visited all three Baltic states.

Kyiv calls Vilnius one of Ukraine's biggest supporters as the country has been fighting the Russian invasion for more than two years and is facing stalling US support.

Lithuania is a strong supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. In terms of economic size, Lithuania is among the largest contributors of military assistance to Ukraine.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – President Volodymyr Zelensky said that beefing up its air defense and consolidating international support is key for Ukraine now, as he arrived in Vilnius on Thursday morning.

"I arrived to Lithuania to participate in the Three Seas Summit and hold talks with the leaders of the partner countries," Zelensky posted on the X platform.

"The main task for now is to make every effort to strengthen our air defense system, to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and to consolidate international support so that we can overcome Russian terror," he wrote.

In Vilnius, Zelensky is also expected to sign a new bilateral security agreement between Lithuania and Ukraine.

The agreement commits Lithuania to providing an amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of its GDP in security and defense assistance to the war-torn country annually.

The document provides for the implementation of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which was adopted at NATO's Vilnius summit last July and joined by Lithuania and the other two Baltic states in August.

The agreement also outlines the modalities of Lithuania's support to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities and national security for the next decade.

Elements of the agreement include providing Lithuanian military, humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine to protect and restore its territorial integrity, deepening mutually beneficial security cooperation, strengthening Ukraine's economic and energy stability and resilience, and supporting Ukraine's rapid progress towards EU and NATO membership.

The document also calls for Lithuania's support to Ukraine in the areas of justice and the fight against corruption, and in seeking Russia's accountability for the crime of aggression and compensation for the material damage caused.

Twenty-five countries have joined the G7 declaration so far and eight have signed agreements with Ukraine on its practical implementation.

"Russian evil is a threat not only to Ukraine, but to every nation bordering Russia and to everyone who values international law," the Ukrainian president posted on X.

This marks Zelensky's third visit to Lithuania since the start of the war in Ukraine and his fifth visit to the country overall. He last visited Lithuania in January as part of his tour of the three Baltic nations.

Kyiv considers Vilnius one of its strongest supporters of Ukraine, which has been resisting Russia's full-scale invasion for more than two years and is faced with stalling US assistance.

Vilnius is an active supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. Relative to the size of its economy, Lithuania is among the top contributors of military assistance to Ukraine

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuania allows defense procurement of components from China, other unreliable countries (updates)

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday gave the green light for defense industry companies, which often struggle to find reliable drone or other product component manufacturers at favorable prices, to purchase these components from China and other suppliers deemed as unreliable.

The respective amendments to the Law on Public Procurement were passed in a vote of 77 to three with 21 abstentions.

Under the amendments, goods intended exclusively for scientific research, experiments, studies, or experimental development purposes, or for support to foreign states will be exempted from the restrictions between May 2024 and May 2025.

The exemption will apply to contracting authorities operating in the field of defense, managing critical information infrastructure, those considered a part of strategically important economic sectors, or included in the List of Secure Network Users.

MP Linas Slusnys of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats said that opening the market to Chinese products "is not the most cheerful" decision, but Lithuania cannot produce, for example, drones without certain components.

Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Karolis Zemaitis told the public broadcaster LRT earlier on Thursday that defense industry companies will only be allowed to purchase components, not software, from China.

"The proposal is very limited in scope; it's only about components, or what we call 'hardware', not about software," he said, adding that the purchased goods will have to be used solely for testing and for support to Ukraine.

The vice-minister said the authorities will ensure the control of goods and components purchased from China, noting that the use of software from China is already regulated by law.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Private investments should replace EU ones in Three Seas region – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - EU investments should be replaced by private ones in Three Seas Initiative region as it has gotten economically stronger, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"The economic success of the Three Seas region has moved us closer to the well-developed Western countries. For this reason, a reduction in EU cohesion structural funding is already on the horizon. Now is the time for private capital to step up and invest in viable infrastructure projects of the Three Seas region," Nauseda said, addressing participants of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum on Thursday.

"To succeed, we must become an important hub for innovations in digital infrastructure, green hydrogen, electro-mobility development, and Artificial Intelligence," he added.

As Vilnius host the meeting of representatives from 12 Eastern and Southern European countries, the Lithuanian leader stressed the importance of such summits in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and strengthening transatlantic ties.

"First, I see close coordination with the European Union, complementing its cohesion efforts and helping it to achieve enlargement goals. Second, by having the United States of America as a strategic partner, the Three Seas Initiative reinforces the transatlantic partnership. The American participation brings massive changes to our region," Nauseda said.

In his words, as the war in Ukraine continues, countries from the Three Seas region are facing "the reconstruction of Ukraine as a massive infrastructural task – and a great opportunity".

The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners, and Japan is expected to join it as a new strategic partner during the summit in Vilnius.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Zelensky stresses air defense needs, international support on arrival in Vilnius (corrects)

Updated version: updates paras 3, 4, the agreement will not be signed with Lithuania

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says beefing up its air defense and consolidating international support is key for Ukraine now, as he arrived in Vilnius on Thursday morning.

"I arrived to Lithuania to participate in the Three Seas Summit and hold talks with the leaders of the partner countries," Zelensky posted on the X platform. "The main task for now is to make every effort to strengthen our air defense system, to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and to consolidate international support so that we can overcome Russian terror."

In Vilnius, Zelensky is also expected to sign a new bilateral security agreement. Zelensky's representative later told BNS such an agreement would not be signed with Lithuania. According to information available to BNS, it will be signed with Latvia.

Lithuania has also drawn up a similar document. The Lithuanian government approved it in principle on Wednesday but it remains to be seen when it will be signed.

The agreement commits Lithuania to providing an amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of its GDP in security and defense assistance to the war-torn country annually.

The agreement also outlines the modalities of Lithuania's support to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities and national security for the next decade.

Twenty-five countries have joined the G7 declaration so far and eight have signed agreements with Ukraine on its practical implementation.

"Russian evil is a threat not only to Ukraine, but to every nation bordering Russia and to everyone who values international law," the Ukrainian president posted on X.

Kyiv considers Vilnius one of its strongest supporters of Ukraine, which has been resisting Russia's full-scale invasion for more than two years and is faced with stalling US assistance.

Vilnius is an active supporter of Ukraine's EU and NATO membership. Relative to the size of its economy, Lithuania is among the top contributors of military assistance to Ukraine

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Initiatives to support Ukraine are loud, but need to be implemented - Zelensky in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Initiatives to support war-torn Ukraine must not only be launched but also implemented, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.

"All the initiatives when they begin, they begin very loudly, its important to finish them with the result for Ukraine, if we are speaking about the 155 artillery initiative or others," he told reporters at the Presidential Palace.

He was speaking after the EU failed to keep its promise to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 1.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuania's first Michelin-starred restaurants to be unveiled in June – minister

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The first Michelin-starred restaurant or restaurants in Lithuania are expected to be unveiled in June, Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite said on Thursday.

"A good day for good news! We did it! Lithuania will finally be in the Michelin Guide. The ranking of our restaurants will be announced in June," she posted on Facebook.

Michelin announced in a press release on Thursday that "the inaugural selection" of Lithuania's top restaurants will be unveiled in Vilnius on June 13.

"With the launch of the Lithuania Guide, we are proud to complete the Michelin Guide selection for the Baltic countries, providing a comprehensive resource when it comes to top-quality dining experiences in this region," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The Michelin Guides.

"Our inspectors are currently finalizing the first edition, which we look forward to sharing with food-lovers from around the world," he added.

The Michelin Guide is an internationally well-known and prestigious ranking of restaurants, where they are evaluated according to various criteria and awarded Michelin stars.

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Zelensky in Vilnius calls for implementation of Western aid initiatives, wants air defense (expands)

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Initiatives to support war-torn Ukraine must not only be launched but also implemented, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.

He once again called on the West to send air defense systems to Ukraine as Russia has increased missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.

"All the initiatives when they begin, they begin very loudly, it's important to finish them with the result for Ukraine, if we are speaking about the 155 artillery initiative or others," he told reporters at the Presidential Palace.

He was speaking after the EU failed to keep its promise to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 1.

In late February, the Czech Republic announced a new international initiative to buy hundreds of thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine from third countries. Lithuania has also joined this initiative by deciding to contribute 35 million euros.

During his meeting with the Lithuanian president, Zelensky also stressed the need for air defense systems.

"It is our biggest challenge today and you know that we were attacked last night, this early morning. Again, Kharkiv, again, Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, the Kyiv region, a lot of our regions, people. That is why for us the air defense is (...) the priority number one," the Ukrainian leader said.

For his part, Nauseda said Lithuania "is committed to do the best" to provide necessary assistance to Ukraine, adding, however, that the country's resources are limited.

"However, we are ready to supply you with anti-drone systems, armored vehicles, logistic vehicles, also some kind of 155 mm ammunition," he said. "This his is not easy but we are trying to do our best."

As the NATO Washington Summit approaches, the Lithuanian president stressed that Western partners must find a formula to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance.

The two leaders also hope that EU leaders would endorse a negotiating framework for Ukraine in June.

The decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine was made by EU leaders late last year. Lithuania is actively supporting Kyiv's membership and vows to help it implement the necessary reforms.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuania favors broad European consensus on recognition of Palestine – finmin

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuania advocates for a broad European consensus on the recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Thursday.

"We are probably looking for the broadest possible European solution," Landsbergis told reporters.

"There have been questions as to why we sometimes change our position with one or another vote, and it is mostly because I believe that our presence at the center adds the most value to the audibility, consistency, and the possibility of resolving the conflict," he said.

According to Landsbergis, it is difficult to say when EU member countries will agree on Palestine.

"The EU is divided into three groups: a group of states that is completely opposed to any step forward, a group that wants it to be done more quickly, and there is the center," the minister said.

"Lithuania has always been at the center, and our fundamental, principled stance is that Lithuania supports a two-state solution, while, of course, also respecting the principles of international law," he added.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in March that he would propose that his country's parliament recognize a Palestinian state.

In a joint statement issued on March 22, the leaders of Spain and three other countries – Ireland, Malta and Slovenia – expressed "readiness to recognize Palestine" when "the circumstances are right".

Landsbergis said that the situation in the Gaza Strip is "really bad and causes great concern."

"While Israel has every right to defend itself against terrorist attacks and demand the release of abducted people, it must ensure the principles of civil-humanitarian law. This is where both Lithuania and many of its partners have doubts about compliance," he said.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Ukraine's economy has to be 'built back better' – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday that it is important to talk not only about rebuilding Ukraine's war-torn economy, but also about making it better.

The president made the remarks as Vilnius is hosting the Three Seas Initiative Summit.

"An important topic is the help and assistance to rebuild and restructure Ukraine's economy. We need not only to rebuild, but we have to build back better," he said.

According to Nauseda, this presents a huge opportunity for countries in the region, which have a long history of political and economic relations with Ukraine and have a lot of experience in dealing with the Ukrainian market.

The president said that for Lithuania, which is currently holding the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, it was important to assist Ukraine and Moldova in their efforts to join the European Union.

"We did a lot in order to get those extremely necessary decisions regarding the candidate status initially and then the decision to start negotiations," he said.

Nauseda reiterated his expectation that the intergovernmental negotiations will start in June.

Speaking about the Three Seas Initiative Summit's issues, Nauseda said that in the current geopolitical context, it is important to talk about the resilience of state infrastructure, including critical infrastructure, and about the reinforcement of logistical systems to improve military mobility.

The president also noted that the Three Seas Initiative is expanding and attracting interest from new partner countries.

"I welcome Japan as a new strategic partner of the Three Seas Initiative," he said.

At the summit, regional leaders are discussing the development of relations in transport, energy and cyber security.

Lithuania is hosting delegations from 25 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia.

Nauseda will chair the summit's plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders

The Three Seas Initiative brings together 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.

The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners.

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Lithuania expects Moldova's EU membership talks to start in early summer – PM

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Lithuania expects talks on Moldova's EU membership to begin in early summer, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said as she hosted her Moldovan counterpart Dorin Recean in Vilnius on Thursday.

"Moldova's progress in implementing the reforms necessary for EU membership deserves not only praise, but also a real start of negotiations as soon as possible," Simonyte said in a press release after the meeting.

"Having walked this path 20 years ago, Lithuania knows the importance of support and will continue to be a reliable partner always ready to help Moldova, as well as Ukraine," she added.

The two prime ministers also discussed the security situation amid Russia's continuing war against Ukraine, and bilateral cooperation.

Simonyte described Moldova's progress in the reform agenda as significant, emphasizing the importance of continuing the efforts.

She said that Lithuania is looking to step up cooperation with Moldova in the fight against disinformation, cyber and hybrid threats.

The officials also discussed the situation in Transnistria, energy security and other topical issues of bilateral relations.

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Seimas OKs acceleration of TEN-T projects (updates)

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure projects can be recognized as projects of special national importance after the Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday authorized the granting of this status to speed up their implementation.

86 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill on law accelerating the implementation of the trans-European transport network, there were no votes against and four MPs abstained.

The TEN-T network connects major EU cities, sea and airport ports, rail terminals and other transport hubs.

The Via Baltica and Vilnius-Klaipeda motorways, which are part of the TEN-T network, as well as the Rail Baltica European railway, the Vilnius-Klaipeda railway, the Kaunas Intermodal Terminal, the port of Klaipeda, and the airports of Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga have the status of special national interest.

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Strengthening defense must become an investment priority – Lithuanian PM

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – As Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, beefing up the defense of Lithuania and Europe as a whole must become an investment priority, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Thursday.

"Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the chosen confrontation against the democratic world compel us to make defense strengthening a priority for our investments – not only in our country but in Europe too, and also to help Ukraine win," she said in a press release.

Simonyte met with Nadia Calvino, president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in Vilnius on Thursday to discuss "the economic development and investment priorities of both Europe and Lithuania, also the support for Ukraine", according to the press release.

In her meeting with Calvino, the prime minister emphasized the strengthening of investment in the European defense industry.

The meeting with Renaud-Basso "focused on the significance of supporting Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure, which, as the prime minister emphasized, should not be postponed indefinitely despite the ongoing war".

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Lithuania sends anti-drones, generators, folding beds to Ukraine

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Lithuania has sent anti-drones, generators and folding beds to Ukraine as part of its continued support to the country, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the aid reached the war-torn country today.

"Lithuania continues to send aid to Ukraine. We are helping Ukraine in every possible way and we are looking for ways to increase this assistance. The arms and equipment we and our allies are sending are making a critical contribution to Ukraine's fight for freedom," Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas was quoted as saying in the statement.

In response to Ukraine's requests, Lithuania has this year already delivered 155 mm ammunition, M577 armored vehicles, anti-drone systems, winter equipment and tens of thousands of warm clothing sets, thousands of Carl Gustaf anti-tank grenade launcher ammunition and RISE-1 remote detonation systems to Ukraine.

Lithuania has provided Ukraine with around 1 billion euros worth of aid, including military assistance valued at around 610 million euros.

Some 84 million euros of assistance has already been provided this year, and the aim is to maintain such dynamics, the ministry said.

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A dozen EU leaders gather in Vilnius to discuss ties, listen to Zelensky's requests

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – Leaders of a dozen EU member countries and Ukraine have gathered in Vilnius on Thursday for the Three Seas Summit to discuss ties and joint projects.

Although the summit was initially expected to focus on energy, transport and cyber security, the topics were overshadowed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's requests for more air defense systems for the war-torn country.

"I will share with my partners all the details what is going now on the battlefield in Ukraine. Of course, urgent needs for Ukraine. I think it's not only for Ukraine, (but also) for European security," Zelensky told reporters on his arrival at the summit in the Lithuanian capital.

"Number one, of course, is air defense. I will speak with all the details," he said.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who is hosting the leaders, underscored the need to rebuild Ukraine's economy.

"An important topic is the help and assistance to rebuild and restructure Ukraine's economy. We need not only to rebuild, but we have to build back better," he said before the meeting.

Estonian President Alar Karis emphasized cooperation between Northern and Southern Europe.

"Connections between North and South are not only the priority, they're also a geopolitical necessity," he said in Vilnius.

Karis named aid to Ukraine and Rail Baltica as Estonia's priorities at the summit.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose country joined the initiative last year, noted that the Three Seas Summit is taking place amid "geopolitical turmoil in Europe".

"Greece can significantly contribute to the Three Seas Initiative by opening up the southern route or connectivity (...) from the South to the North," he said.

Greece's participation in the initiative can contribute both to better rail links and to strengthening renewable energy, according to Mitsotakis.

Virginijus Sinkevicius, who is representing the European Commission at the summit, said the focus will be on reinforcing the region and Europe as a whole.

"Our strength comes in unity. (...) Today we need to unite again. First of all, to help Ukraine win the war, providing everything that Ukraine needs for that," he said.

Europe also needs unity in reducing dependencies on third countries, the commissioner said.

"We managed to decrease our dependence on Russian fossil fuels; now it's time to ensure strategic autonomy from China materials," he said.

Lithuania is hosting delegations from over 20 countries and 10 heads of state, including the presidents of neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia.

Nauseda is chairing the summit's plenary session, which is expected to result in a joint declaration by the states' leaders.

The US, Germany and the European Commission are the initiative's strategic partners.

Nauseda welcomed Japan as a new strategic partner of the initiative.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Intermin: Lithuania ready as inflow of illegal migration up in Poland

VILNIUS, Apr11, BNS – Lithuanian officers are ready to respond as Poland has seen an increase in the flow of illegal migrants from Belarus recently, Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite says.

"We want to reassure everyone that Lithuania is managing and controlling the situation and that we have the highest level of vigilance," the minister told a press conference on Thursday.

If necessary, she added, the army and other services might be deployed to assist border guards.

According to the State Border Guard Service, some 450 illegal migrants tried to enter Poland obver the past 24 hours. Seven foreigners were turned back at the Lithuanian border yesterday.

Lithuanian border guards say migrants tried to enter Poland in groups of several hundred, behaved aggressively, and the army had to be called in to assist.

"Our colleagues managed to successfully resolve this conflict and prevent the entry of illegal migrants," SBGS chief Rustamas Liubajevas told reporters. "Illegal migrants were trying to force their way through the concertina in the border section where work is still underway and where the whole infrastructure is not yet fully put in place."

The migrants threw stones at officers and were armed with improvised tools. Luckily, there were no casualties.

Bilotaite says she has no intelligence information that such border violations could also take place at the Lithuanian border.

"But from what we see at the Polish border, we see a trend that if these persons are not allowed in, there is a risk that these persons could be pushed in an organized way into our territory or into Latvia's territory," the minister said.

She believed the emergence of a group of migrants at the border with Poland was orchestrated by the Belarusian regime and its officers.

Liubajevas says migration trends in the region are negative, adding, however, that there's no need to get Lithuanian troops involved for the time being.

Poland has been recently recording attempts by some 250 illegal migrants a day to cross its border. Meanwhile, there have been only sporadic attempts in Lithuania.

The influx of illegal migrants trying to eastern EU members from Belarus began in 2021, and the West accuses the Minsk regime of orchestrating it.

Almost 4,200 migrants entered Lithuania illegally from Belarus that year, but most of them have since left the country when movement restrictions were lifted.

Since then, Lithuanian border guards have turned migrants away more than 22,000 times. This year, border guards prevented 160 irregular migrants from entering Lithuania from Belarus via non-designated points. Some migrants have tried to do so more than once.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.

"There are no other alternatives for our security, we need this invitation to the Alliance. Ukraine and our people, our fighters deserve it," he said during the Three Seas summit.

NATO leaders agreed at the Vilnius summit in June that Ukraine would be invited to join NATO, but the likelihood of this happening in Washington this July remains vague.

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Only political platform for peace talks is one proposed by Kyiv– Zelensky in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS – The only platform for peace talks is the one proposed by Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the Three Seas Summit in Vilnius.

"The only political platform for peace talks is our proposed platform, which is the June peace meeting. Most of the civilized world, those who care, will attend this meeting," Zelensky told a press conference on Thursday, asked whether the US' failure to approve aid for Ukraine would force Kyiv to come to the negotiating table with Russia.

"There, we will outline a clear plan to end this war from the perspective of a just peace," he added.

The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that the country would hold a meeting in mid-June to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. Russia has said it will not attend the meeting, adding that the conference was pointless.

According to the Ukrainian president, the peace plan will be based on UN resolutions and the document will be then processed at a "technical level".

"Later, it will be possible to join this format in one way or another. All this will be discussed at the first summit and Russia will have to implement these steps for the sake of a just peace," Zelenky said. "This is the only format we see."

He noted that the loss of military support would be "very difficult for Ukraine, we will lose people, we will lose soldiers who are very dear to us".

"The issue is not only about territory. Others are spreading the Russian narrative that it is only about territory. No, it is primarily about people, but territories are also important for us because if you do not restore territorial integrity, it means that you are don’t respect your sovereignty, you turn it into a frozen conflict and it is only a matter of time before Putin comes back," Zelensky pointed out.

Ukraine has consistently stated that peace with Russia is only possible when Moscow leaves all the occupied territories.

A 60 billion US dollar (55.34 billion euro) funding package for Ukraine is currently stalled in the US Congress, but there are hopes that lawmakers could pass it in the coming weeks.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Zelensky in Vilnius: Ukraine needs invitation to NATO (expands)

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Ukraine needs an invitation to join NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Vilnius on Thursday.

"There are no other alternatives for our security, we need this invitation to the Alliance. Ukraine and our people, our fighters deserve it," he told a press conference after the Three Seas Summit.

NATO leaders agreed at the Vilnius summit in June that Ukraine would be invited to join NATO, when it meets the requirements and once NATO member countries agree on that. However, the likelihood of this happening in Washington this July remains vague.

The Ukrainian president said, however, it was important for Europe to show that "Europe is not afraid and that NATO is not afraid of its own rules".

He also said that June would be a good time to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

"Ukraine needs a signal and should not be allowed to think that the European Union is weak," the Ukrainian leader said.

At the end of last year, EU leaders agreed to open EU membership talks with Kyiv, which was a historic step in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, launched by Moscow almost two years ago.

Brussels aims to present a framework for Ukraine's accession negotiations by the beginning of this summer.

"Putin is creating his own escalation timetable and he is responding to our actions. He wants to destroy us, he wants to destroy Ukraine and subjugate other countries," Zelensky said. "It is very important that countries around the world unite for peace."

By Greta Zulonaitė

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Eastern, southern EU countries agree to improve infrastructure, connectivity

VILNIUS, Apr 11, BNS - Thirteen eastern and southern EU countries agreed in Vilnius on Thursday to step up the implementation of mutual infrastructure and transport projects and strengthen the region's role in international trade chains.

The agreement is part of a declaration signed on Thursday in Vilnius during the Three Seas Summit.

"A joint declaration has been adopted, which, I hope, will become a momentum to move forward in all priority areas," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told journalists after the summit.

The document states that the countries that are part of the initiative should accelerate efforts to build "resilient infrastructure and better connectivity" with the EU, develop renewable energy and digital innovation.

"We noted that the initiative has now 143 priority projects in the areas of transport, energy and digitalization," the president said.

The declaration also underlines the geopolitical importance of the Three Sea Initiative in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and includes the agreement to strengthen the "role and visibility" of the format and cooperation with the initiative's strategic partners – the US, the European Commission, Germany and new partner Japan.

"In the declaration, we expressed our strong commitment to the fundamental objective of the Three Seas Initiative to strengthen regional cooperation for a more resilient Europe and a stronger transatlantic partnership," Nauseda said.

The document strongly condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and vows to further tighten sanctions against the Kremlin.

In addition, initiative members agreed on a common position to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Three Seas Initiative brings together thirteen EU member states situated among the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Vilnius on Thursday to attend the summit.

By Lukas Juozapaitis

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Apr 13 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, April 4, 2024
Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
Lithuanian formin urges NATO to agree on long-term aid for Ukraine, its path to Alliance
NATO should aim for higher than EUR 100 b funding for Ukraine – Lithuanian diplomat
Lithuania mulls Chinese software bank for powerful private solar, wind farms – minister
EBRD president to pay 1st visit to Lithuania
Businesses, not state, would build nuclear reactors in Lithuania – minister
NATO's biggest battles may lie ahead – Lithuania's Landsbergis
Lithuania's CEC registers Nauseda, Simonyte, Zalimas as presidential candidates
New Vilnius campaign will invite Brits, Germans to break stereotypes
NATO fund would ensure Ukraine aid independent of 'political winds' – Lithuanian president
Ukrainian PM to visit Vilnius Friday
Ukrainian PM to visit Vilnius Friday (expands)
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, April 5, 2024

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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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Apr 04, 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 Thursday morning.

Latvia reported 26 attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday, and 225 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, 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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Lithuanian formin urges NATO to agree on long-term aid for Ukraine, its path to Alliance

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Wednesday called on NATO to agree on long-term support for Ukraine and its path to the Alliance, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Alliance must first agree on long-term support for Ukraine, its path to NATO, and a strategy to contain Russia," it quoted Lithuania's top diplomat as saying during NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

NATO ministers discussed preparations for the upcoming Washington Summit in July, ways to institutionalize coordination of support to Ukraine, the threat posed by Russia, security challenges in the Alliance's southern neighborhood, and cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will update his NATO counterparts on Kyiv's most pressing defense needs at the NATO-Ukraine Council's meeting in Brussels.

"The atmosphere of the summit in Washington will be determined not only by our intentions or how we communicate about them, but also by developments on the front, what will be agreed on the start of negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership, and other factors,
Landsbergis said.

On Wednesday, NATO's ministers debated the creation of a 100-billion-euro, five-year fund for Ukraine.

The current proposal envisions NATO members contributing to the fund according to the size of their economy. However, some Western countries are skeptical about the initiative.

In Brussels, the three Baltic foreign ministers also met with their German counterpart Annalena Baerbock to discuss "strengthening defense and deterrence on the eastern flank of NATO and preparations for the summit in Washington, D.C.," the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.

At their summit in the Lithuanian capital last July, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance "when Allies agree and conditions are met".

Kyiv hopes to receive an invitation to join NATO during this year's summit in Washington, D.C., but is unlikely to get one.

In Brussels, Landsbergis will also attend a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) foreign ministers and NATO's 75th anniversary celebration.

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NATO should aim for higher than EUR 100 b funding for Ukraine – Lithuanian diplomat

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – NATO should aim for more than 100 billion euros in financing for Ukraine, Deividas Matulionis, Lithuania's ambassador to the Alliance, said on Thursday.

Amid discussions among NATO members about long-term support for Ukraine, the diplomat said that Lithuania's position is that the model could also include bilateral aid.

"We, Lithuania, say that 100 billion euros for five years is not that much, and we should consider a larger amount and possibly include what we are bilaterally providing to Ukraine," he told LRT Radio.

"The discussion has started and I hope that we will move towards specific decisions that will be more binding, not just voluntary contributions," he said.

At their meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, NATO's top diplomats discussed the creation of a 100-billion-euro, five-year fund for Ukraine.

The current proposal envisions NATO's 32 members contributing to the fund according to the size of their economy. However, some Western countries are skeptical about the initiative.

According to Matulionis, discussions on the specific funding rules include setting a specific percentage of countries' GDP, as well as allocating financing for Ukraine as a part of allies' contribution to NATO activities.

"One option would be (...) for everyone to aim for 0.2 percent or 0.25 percent of GDP (...), because the problem today is that countries are financing Ukraine very unevenly," he said.

In Brussels, NATO foreign ministers are also discussing the prospects for Ukraine's membership of the Alliance.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will update his NATO counterparts on Kyiv's most pressing defense needs at the NATO-Ukraine Council's meeting in the Belgian capital.

At their summit in the Lithuanian capital last July, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance "when Allies agree and conditions are met".

Kyiv hopes to receive an invitation to join NATO during this year's summit in Washington, D.C., but is unlikely to get one.

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Lithuania mulls Chinese software bank for powerful private solar, wind farms – minister

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Lithuania's Energy Ministry intends to ban private developers of solar and wind power plants with a capacity of more than 100 kilowatts (kW) from using Chinese software, Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys says, adding that no such restrictions are planned for low-power power plants set up by residents.

"We are preparing documents so that all equipment that generates more than 100 kW cannot use any Chinese software," Kreivys told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Thursday when asked whether Lithuania should abandon Chinese technology in the country's energy system.

"That is what we plan. I think that the decisions we will make will solve the problem," the minister said.

Lithuania already has a ban or state institutions to install any Chinese-made software, he pointed out.

With the growing number of household consumers, there is currently no threat of excessive use of Chinese software in their devices, the minister said.

For his part, Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, told the Seimas Committee on Economics in late March that Chinese software was often used in the installation of renewable energy capacities in Lithuania and Europe. He suggested looking for funds to replace Chinese software in existing power plants with Western software.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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EBRD president to pay 1st visit to Lithuania

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS - Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will pay her first visit to Lithuania next week.

She is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste and the bank's clients, the bank said on Thursday.

Discussions will focus on supporting the private sector and capital markets in the region to unlock investment opportunities, as well as ways to support their renewable energy potential.

"The three Baltic states have faced a challenging economic environment and seen reduced investor appetite as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine," the EBRD said in a statement.

According to the EBRD president, the Baltic visit will be aimed at reaffirming the bank's strong commitment to invest in the region.

"We stand ready to invest further in all three countries, to support their renewable energy potential and foster growth in both the private sector and the wider economy," Renaud-Basso said.

She will also participate in the Three Seas Initiative’s Business Forum at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius on April 11.

Before coming to Vilnius, Renaud-Basso will also pay her first visit to Tallinn and Riga. Her Baltic visit will take place on April 8-11.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in the Baltic states. To date, the bank has invested more than 1.5 billion euros in 126 projects in Lithuania.

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Businesses, not state, would build nuclear reactors in Lithuania – minister

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said on Thursday that future nuclear reactors in Lithuania would not be built by the state, adding that nuclear energy development will largely depend on the cost of technology and privately-owned businesses' willingness to invest in such projects.

"(It will depend) on how much technology will cost and whether there will be companies willing to do it. The state will not build such facilities," he told the Ziniu Radijas radio station, commenting on the Energy Ministry's proposal to develop small nuclear power reactors as an option to ensure stable electricity production in the future.

Lithuania's new National Energy Independence Strategy is based on the development of renewable energy sources and includes next-generation nuclear energy as just one of future options, according to Kreivys.

The minister said the number one reason for considering modern nuclear reactors in Lithuania will be their positive impact on electricity prices and their stability.

"(We have to look at) how much this will lower costs for households and businesses," Kreivys said.

"With a flexible nuclear reactor, we can integrate more renewable energy into the system, and many industries need a very stable electricity supply," he added.

Kreivys has said earlier that fourth-generation nuclear reactors are safer than previous generations of nuclear power plants. He also believes that nuclear energy would reduce the energy system maintenance costs for 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's biggest battles may lie ahead – Lithuania's Landsbergis

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS - NATO's biggest battles may lie ahead and the alliance must be ready for them, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

"Unfortunately, it could be that NATO’s biggest battles and fights are still in the future. We have to be very much prepared for that because if those battles come to us and we are not prepared, that will be the biggest mistake that we can ever have," Landsbergis said at an event in Brussels to mark NATO's 75th anniversary.

Last week, Lithuania marked 20 years since it became a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Lithuania applied to join NATO on January 4, 1994 and became a full-fledged member on March 29, 2004.

The world's most powerful defense alliance currently has 32 allies.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Lithuania's CEC registers Nauseda, Simonyte, Zalimas as presidential candidates

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Lithuania's Central Electoral Commission on Thursday registered the first three presidential candidates - Gitanas Nauseda, who is seeking re-election for a second term, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Dainius Zalimas, dean of the Faculty of Law of Vytautas Magnus University.

Their registration means that they meet the requirements for a candidate, have submitted the necessary documents, have paid the election deposit and have collected at least 20,000 signatures of voters supporting them.

Nauseda and Simonyte will run for president for the second time.

According to the law, the CEC must register all presidential candidates by April 11 and publish their names on its website on April 12.

Initially, there were a total of 15 contenders to run for president but some of them later change their minds and withdrew from the race after they failed to collect the necessary number of votes.

The CEC has yet to decide on the registration as candidates of ex-Defense Vice Minister Giedrimas Jeglinskas, Labor Party leader Andrius Mazuronis, Eduardas Vaitkus, a medical doctor, Ignas Vegele, a lawyer, and MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, leader of the Nemuno Ausra (The Dawn of the Neman) party.

The presidential election will take place on May 12.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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New Vilnius campaign will invite Brits, Germans to break stereotypes

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Vilnius is set to launch a new advertising campaign in the UK and Germany next week, worth around 0.5 million euros, and will invite people in the two countries to break stereotypes about the Lithuanian capital.

With this new campaign, entitled "Expectations vs Reality" and starting April 8, Vilnius will try to shake off the label of a "former Soviet country".

"60 percent of people in the UK and 40 percent of residents of Germany don't know Vilnius. (...) And of those who know it, 25 percent only know the name. (…) If you don't know what's so fascinating about the city, what can you do there?" Dovile Aleksandraviciene, head of Go Vilnius, said at the launch of the new campaign on Thursday.

A study carried out this year by the KOG Institute for Marketing and Communication Sciences found that only 8 percent of people in the UK and Germany know more than the name of Vilnius or have more than basic geographic knowledge. Most of them associate Vilnius with Eastern European stereotypes and poverty, Aleksandraviciene said.

"What does the UK associate Vilnius with? It's Russia – 10 percent, (...) we see the same in Germany as 17 percent think we are a post-Soviet country in a bad way," she added.

59 percent of Britons and 50 percent of Germans would like to come back to Vilnius again.

One of the highlights of the campaign is a video in which a British man sees an invitation to come to Vilnius in a newspaper and starts imagining all sorts of stereotypical images, such as a man urinating on the wall of a wooden house and turning around to say hello, or a mother and her child riding in a wagon with straw. Later, the British man is shown images of contemporary Vilnius.

Aleksandraviciene admits that such advertising is very bold, but added that earlier research proved its effectiveness as 53 percent of Germans and 49 percent of Britons saw it and started looking for more information about Vilnius, while 36 percent Germans and 49 percent of Britons wanted to learn more about the culture and history of Vilnius, and 27 percent and 30 percent wanted to make plans for a trip to the Lithuanian capital.

The new campaign will be funded by the city's tourist tax, the GO Vilnius head said.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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NATO fund would ensure Ukraine aid independent of 'political winds' – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday welcomed an initiative to create a 100-billion-euro NATO fund for Ukraine, saying it would allow ensuring the Alliance's support to Kiyv independently of political processes.

Nauseda's comment came after NATO's top diplomats discussed a proposal for a 100-billion-euro, five-year fund for Ukraine at their meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.

"I welcome the idea itself. We do need a mechanism to make this support process objective, determined by certain criteria," Nauseda told journalists.

"This does not rule out the possibility of individual states contributing much more, but it first and foremost ensures the much-needed solidarity so that a collective agreement to continue supporting Ukraine is reached regardless of political winds and crosswinds," he said.

According to Nauseda, even if the NATO fund is approved, solutions will still need to be sought to provide macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.

"Individual countries will continue to try to help in various ways, both financially and through other means," he said.

The current proposal envisions NATO's 32 members contributing to the fund according to the size of their economy. However, some Western countries are skeptical about the initiative.

Deividas Matulionis, Lithuania's ambassador to NATO, told LRT Radio earlier on Thursday that the Alliance should aim for more than 100 billion euros in financing for Ukraine.

A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council was held in Brussels on Thursday to discuss Ukraine's prospects for joining the Alliance. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba updated his NATO counterparts on Kyiv's most pressing defense needs.

At their summit in the Lithuanian capital last July, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance "when Allies agree and conditions are met".

Kyiv hopes to receive an invitation to join NATO during this year's summit in Washington, D.C., but is unlikely to get one.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Ukrainian PM to visit Vilnius Friday

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to visit Lithuania on Friday and meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Simonyte and Shmyhal will discuss Ukraine's defense needs and Lithuania's military support to Kyiv, the expansion and implementation of sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus, as well as issues of international accountability for the aggressors, the Lithuanian government's press office said in a press release on Thursday.

Other topics to be discussed include Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration agenda, and support for the war-ravaged country's energy sector and reconstruction.

The two prime ministers are expected to hold a joint news conference and visit the headquarters of Blue/Yellow, a non-governmental organization supporting Ukraine.

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Ukrainian PM to visit Vilnius Friday (expands)

(adds last 2 paras)

VILNIUS, Apr 04, BNS – Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to visit Lithuania on Friday and meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Other topics to be discussed include Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration agenda, and support for the war-ravaged country's energy sector and reconstruction.

The two prime ministers are expected to hold a joint news conference and visit the headquarters of Blue/Yellow, a non-governmental organization supporting Ukraine.

Shmyhal and Nauseda are scheduled to meet at noon to discuss Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the frontline, the need for military and financial assistance, Ukraine's EU integration process, reconstruction issues, and joint defense projects between the two countries, the president's office said.

Nauseda will present the Ukrainian prime minister with the Cross of the Commander of the Order of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, April 5, 2024

VILNIUS, Apr 05, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, April 5, 2024.

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at noon.

THE SEIMAS to hold a tripartite meeting of Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian parliamentary delegations and representatives of farmers' organizations at 11 a.m.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at 9.50 a.m., followed by a joint pres conference at 11.20 a.m.; the two prime minister will visit the Blue/Yellow organization at 2.55 p.m.

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Apr 13 2024

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