Archive for February, 2011

Two good debates from 2010

To give you a better idea of the debates we've had in the previous year, we reproduce below two articles and the subsequent response to these received from our readers:

LACK OF COMMON SENSE BY PEOPLE POSITIONED AND TASKED WITH LEADERSHIP

Thank you Mr. Myhre for this copy and mostly for your gallant effort in pointing to the lack of common sense by people positioned and tasked with leadership in very important matters. After decades of Communist style living it is possible that the population has not yet regained clarity, confidence and with it the will to keep self serving arrogance out of ranks of the Nation's leaders.  

Best regards,

Algirdas Vaitkus

Mission Viejo, California

I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR COURAGE AND CLARITY

Dear Aage,

Bravo on an excellent issue. I congratulate you on your courage and clarity. Whether people agree or disagree with whatever point, I do hope many understand how much love, care and constructive friendship you are offering to your adopted country. Nothing can be better for a new democracy than a spirit of free civic debate and encouraging more and more local people to.... stay and debate!

Cheers

Dovid Katz

North Wales 

THE NECESSITY TO DEVELOP A CULTURE OF MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT

Dear Aage!

Could not resist myself writing you and congratulating you for very good article! Enjoyed reading it!

It illustrates perfectly the Adizes management methodology (ref. www.adizes.com), which I am working with currently. It talks about necessity to develop a culture of mutual trust and respect within any organization in order to be successful (could be business organization or country). And one of the important elements creating such culture is willingness to hear and understand other people and other opinions.

You just provided a perfect example about the lack of mutual trust and respect in Lithuanian society! Very well done!

Best regards,

Virginijus Kundrotas

Kaunas

ANOTHER WELL-WRITTEN AND INFORMATIVE ISSUE OF VILNEWS

Hello Aage,

Congratulations on another well-written and informative issue of VilNews. The issues addressed speak for themselves.

I would like to bring to your attention another issue that you might like to look into, i.e. the subject of Lithuanian artists abroad. There is currently an exhibit at Radvilu Rumai Museum focusing on Lithuanian artists abroad. One of the featured artists, Danute Nitecki, is local to the San Francisco Bay Area, http://www.ldm.lt/RRM/Dovana_nepriklausomai_Lietuvai.htm

Danute opened her home to the local Lithuanian community this Easter for a 4th year in a row. Her biggest concern these days is finding a long term home for her art. I would bet that her concern is common to other Lithuanian artists living abroad.

Do you think that this is something the national government might like to address, or would it be better to approach local municipalities, or private organizations.

Best regards,
Algis Ratnikas
San Francisco, USA

WE SHOULD BE GLAD THAT OUR LEADERS HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY CONSERVATIVE

Hi,

I am new to your newsletter, but I find your observations thought provoking, which is always good, whether one agrees or not, as it provides a basis for growth. So much in circulation in today's media is just fluff with little meaning or value. 

One point in counterbalance. There is a lot of criticism of Lithuania's government, and while I agree that things could have been done better, we should be very, very glad that our leaders have been financially conservative, unlike the leadership of Vilnius, which has created huge debts for our children to pay, while goods and services were bought at inflated prices that helped cronies. 

People look to the fantasy of the US and think that government can spend freely. The US is truly living in a fantasy world that works so long as they can convince foreign countries to hoard US dollars and keep them off the domestic US market. This option is not available for Lithuania. The result, sooner or later, is super inflation like what existed in Germany around 1923 when the taxi drivers purposely drove their fares by a bak so they could adjust the rate by the latest mark value. I myself have a couple billion marks from that time. 

Iki,

Arturas Baranauskas

Vilnius

EASIER TO OBTAIN AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE,

THAN WITH A MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF LITHUANIA

Dear Mr. Myhre,

I enjoy your positive articles about Lithuania and send them to some 70 friends around the world. The less positive, I keep to myself.

You have lived long enough in Lithuania and must realize that many of the problems of the present day Lithuania are due to their reluctance to learn from the Western countries or accept advice from Lithuanians who lived and studied in the West. The relative success of Lithuania after World War I was largely due to the replacement of Russian educated officials by those who got their degrees in the West. My own father was the first Lithuanian with a degree in forestry from a Western university and introduced major reforms in the forest management, which survived even during the Communist occupation.

Alas, after 20 years of restoration of independence to paraphrase Kipling "The East is East, the West is West and the twain shall never (so far) meet". I spoke to a number of Lithuanians with degrees from top Western universities, who don't want to return to Lithuania - according to them, the "natives" know everything better.

I might add that for me it was easier to obtain an audience with the Pope, than with a Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

Yours sincerely,

Ambassador Algirdas Zemaitis (ret.)

Vilnius – Rome

LISTEN TO SCANDINAVIAN ADVICE, NOT ARROGANTLY

ASSUMING THAT WE THE LITHUANIANS KNOW BEST

Hello Aage,

Hope you had a good Easter.  I have just read the latest edition of VilNews, thank you for another good job.  I agree with your editorial comments.  In particular: "Being a Norwegian, I believe Norway and the other Scandinavian countries would have been willing to stretch to great lengths to provide help and advice for the crisis–hit Lithuania and the two other Baltic States. But they had to be asked.  Our Lithuanian leaders should refrain from arrogance and avoid ignorance by seeking advice where good help and advice is to be found, domestically and internationally. Can they do that, there is every reason to foresee a bright future for this nation."

I have two comments to make on that.  First, I believe that even now it's not too late to ask the Scandinavian countries for help.  But you are exactly right: the Scandinavian countries would want in return a guarantee that whatever help they give will be used wisely, listen to Scandinavian advice, not arrogantly assuming that we the Lithuanians know best.  Closely linked to this is the second thing: no one wants to give help if they think it's going to be wasted corruptly.  Lithuanians need to be able to give the Scandinavian aid-givers a chance to supervise what is going on, the right to inspect and audit, to make sure that the aid is being used as agreed, and not to build the villas of mafiozai and corrupt politicians and public servants on land that they have misappropriated from public forests and lakefronts.

Which brings me back to my key theme (sorry if I'm repetitious):  Lithuania will not make much serious progress until bigger efforts are made to stamp out bribery and corruption.  

Best regards
Gintautas Kaminskas 
Wollongong, Australia

"DUMMHEIT UND STOLZ WACHSEN AUF EINEM HOLZ".

Dear Aage,

Thank you for the fine arrogance story.  Along the lines of your airport comparison, attached is another shameful blemish on the airport. I wholeheartedly agree that the airport is the first image of a country to the visitor. The dungeon like interior structure for processing the arriving passengers certainly doesn't leave much of an image.

I wrote a story in Draugas on robber like taxi fees from the airport to downtown Vilnius.  Also that the taxicabs are drenched with nicotine odor and loud blaring Russian radio music listened by mostly Russian speaking taxicab drivers, causing my daughter to ask whether we really have arrived in Lithuania. 

There is no cash pay-phone at the airport. To make even a local call one has to buy an expensive multiple call pay phone card, and how would a non-Lithuanian speaking visitor find out about that. Moreover, lack of an official non-commercial welcome and information center or booth to the arriving non-Lithuanian speaking foreigner is another striking example of not understanding the impact of an image that a foreign visitor receives. 

On arrogance. Several months ago I had arranged a visit between the minister of energy and a CEO of an important nuclear reactor manufacturer. The meeting was supposed to be for the benefit of the minister on information of what is forthcoming in the future, particularly in small reactors and the possibility of establishing a European affiliate of the company in Lithuania. 

The minister graciously extended an invitation to the CEO, but the minister's secretariat refused to extend even the slightest courtesy to this visit, such as picking up the visitor from the airport and transporting him to the meeting, setting up a meeting agenda, or even providing to the visitor's office the address of the ministry.  They claimed that this was just another sales visit, and the visitor should take care of everything on his own.  As a result the CEO canceled the meeting and eventually went to London. The European affiliate was established in the UK. Thus through such arrogance another opportunity was lost.   

There is a lot truth in the German proverb "Dummheit und Stolz wachsen auf einem Holz".

Best regards,

Stan Backaitis

Washington, USA

SENDING E-MAIL TO LITHUANIA IS LIKE

SENDING IT TO THE BLACK HOLE OF THE UNIVERSE

Dear Aage:

I wish to ad another bit of advise to your fine article on Ignorance.

Lithuania's business people and government officials are yet to learn the necessity of good communications. Without a two way communication there is no possibility for further contacts. One of the most frustrating experiences I had was in e-mail (before that it was in regular "snail mail") communications.  I would write and write but receive no reply (with only a few exceptions). 

When I was working, our management had a rule - "answer all letters received in not more than three days.  If there is no answer to be given, than at least acknowledge the receipt". 

One of my American colleagues, who was sincerely trying to help Lithuania, said "Sending e-mail to Lithuania is like sending it to the black hole of the universe.  Everything goes one way and nothing comes back".  No wander he is now disenchanted and helping others.

Vytautas Sliupas, P.E.

www.aukfoundation.org

Burlingame, California

LITHUANIA'S BUSINESS PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

ARE YET TO LEARN THE NECESSITY OF GOOD COMMUNICATIONS

Dear Aage:

I totally agree with Mr. Sliupas! [ref. his above letter]  I once sent an e-mail to a Lithuanian who responded eight months later! And that is just one example -- there have been numerous others.  Perhaps they just prefer face-to-face communication, but don't know how to communicate that to you :-).

Jennifer Lambert

USA

Section Editor

LIISA LEITZINGER

Liisa Leitzinger moved to Lithuania from Finland 15 years ago. She has graduated from Vilnius University and worked as Vilnius City Guide for tourists from Finland and as a director of a small guest house and restaurant “Mano Liza” in Vilnius Old Town. “My guests are always pleasantly surprised about Lithuania”, says Liisa, “hotels are relatively new and unique, food has homemade taste to it, prices are the lowest in Europe and the Vilnius Old Town charm never fails!”

Contact email: liisa.leitzinger@gmail.com

Web page: www.hotelinvilnius.com

EVALDA ŠIŠKAUSKIENĖ

Evalda Šiškauskienė is a prominent part of Lithuania‘s hotel, restaraunt and hospitality industry. Her twenty five years of experience includes various director positions at some of the finest hotels in Vilnius and ownership of three very popular restaurants in the Vilnius area. From 1991to 2008 she served as President of Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association and was recently reelected for another four years. She is also experienced in lobbying and working with government, state institutions and ministries. She is also an EXCOM member in HOTREC - HOTREC is the trade association of hotels, restaurants and cafes in the European Union bringing together 40 national hospitality associations in 24 countries across Europe - from Portugal to Finland and from Ireland to Greece. Evalda has Masters degrees in Philology from Vilnius Univesity and also studied Psychology.She is fluent in Lithuanian, Russian and English. She is now part of  “ JP STUDIO” Hotel Consultancy Company.

Email: evalda@lvra.lt

Web site: www.jpstudija.lt

BARBARA ISHERWOOD

Barbara Isherwood is President of IWAV (the International Women's Association of Vilnius), a charitable organization and support group that unites women living in Lithuania.  IWAV organizes monthly coffee mornings to which all members and newcomers are invited to share news or just chat and enjoy the treats.  The association also offers many other opportunities to socialize; from Lunch Bunch to Book Club to Playgroup to regular Evening Socials. IWAV is also an increasingly important charitable presence in Lithuania as each year we host a very popular Charity Christmas Bazaar and a springtime Breast Cancer Awareness Event.

Email: barbara@mikelittle.lt

CONSUL GREETINGS

from the  

Lithuanian Consulate in Telemark, Norway

by

Carl Thomas Carlsten

Honorary Consul/dr. Philos

It is a Sunday in fall 2006. The place: Skien city, the capital of Telemark County. The top diplomats from the Lithuanian Embassy in Oslo, ambassador Alfonsas Eidintas and 1th secretary Regimantas Jablonskas with families, are visiting the famous Telemark canal. Mr. Jablonskas has asked me to organize the tour. No wonder they want to see this marvellous engineer victory from 1892, lifting sea travellers 72 meters up from ocean level on the 105 km long route from Skien to Dalen deep into southern Norway. http://www.telemarkskanalen.no/engHYPERLINK "http://www.telemarkskanalen.no/eng/"/ The scenery along the canal is just marvellous, as American tourists say. For dinner: Salmon and elk. The weather is absolutely perfect. The tour is absolutely successful. The final is absolutely surprising: Out of the blue the ambassador asks me to open an honorary consulate!

What brought this about?

I married Irena Maria Bajoraite Petkevic from Kaunas in 1999. She practiced as medical doctor, ophthalmologist and micro surgeon at Kaunas University Hospital. There and then in late July she said farewell to family, eye department and city, and moved with me to Telemark, Norway.

My interest for Lithuania grew, my knowledge about Lithuanians wishes and needs expanded, and my network in Norway gave proposals and solutions. Several bilateral projects were initiated and carried through with assistance from private citizens, public institutions, rotary clubs, and the Embassy in Oslo. I guess the consulate question rooted from this soil!

I myself am a senior advisor for the educational-psychological staff in Skien city. My career started as a teacher, moving through speech therapist practice and educational-psychological advisor diploma to a dr. philos title from Bergen University in 1999. Through job relations and membership in a variety of organizations and clubs I have the network that is the supposition to handle consular challenges. The consulate opened February 1th, 2008.

And what are these challenges?  It is: «To serve as advisory, coordinating, and helping authority in Telemark County for Lithuanian citizens and institutions, and for citizens and institutions in Telemark towards Lithuania.»

Inspecting the Iron Wolf Brigade.

Practically this meant for 2010:

Cultural and political goals:

To establish and enhance cultural connections between Lithuania and Telemark:
•  Translate and publish a Lituanian book into Norwegian (Tur-retur Sibir)
•  Arrange an art excursion to Lithuania.
•  Arrange an excursion to Lithuania about defence and security policy.

Infrastructural goals:

To establish and enhance social connections between Lithuania and Telemark:
•  Maintain relations with The Catholic Church in Telemark.
•  Maintain relations with The Police Director in Telemark.
•  Build network between Norwegian and Lithuanian politicians.

Social goals:

To promote the wellfare of Lithuanians in Telemark, and the interests of Lithuania:
•  Help in ways possible Lithuanian individuals and families.
•  Participate in county related arrangements where it is possible to promote Lithuania.

Economy-related goals:

To establish and enhance business connections between Lithuania and Telemark:
•  Maintain the relation with Skien Chamber of Commerce.
•  Maintain the relation with The Norwegian -Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce.
•  Work for affecting citizen of Telemark to visit Lithuania.

This «roadmap» gave structure and direction in my consular activities in 2010. When the  annual report was sent the Embassy in primo January 2011, I could conclude that all goals were met in a proper way. Maybe most important this year, is the publishing of the book «Tur-Retur Sibir/Tour-Retour Siberia», the product of initiative from 2008:

It is November 2010.
The address is Dronningensgate 3, Oslo. http://no.mfa.lt/
«Tour-Retour Siberia» is about to be presented.

There, at the Embassy of The Republic of Lithuania, journalists and diplomats, civilians and military personnel, Lithuanians and Norwegians are gathered. Before us stands a small, modest, elderly woman. She quietly tells her family's story, a history shared by most families in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, our close neighbours. The author is the 78 year old teacher Dainora Urboniené from Panevezys. She has come to Norway for this reason only, her husband, children and friends following her. 246 - Regina Lukoševičienė. Jei tavimi patiki, turi pasiryžti ir ...   (page 15).

Her book, titled «Tur-Retur Sibir» is a frightening narrative about how the soviets treated people in the Baltics during the years I myself grew up. Lithuania became a victim of the German-Soviet covenant in 1939. Two years after, the republic was dominated by the communists. The deportations started. 10% of the population, mainly political leaders, intellectuals and farmers, «enemies of the people», were arrested. The grim railroad journey went to Siberia on cattle wagons. One hole in the wall for air. One in the floor for everything else. Dainora Urboniené and her family became deported. Her little brother died after short time. Her father also after forced labour and shortage of food. Little Dainora and her mother were left alone in some of the most remote wilderness in Siberia. After the war they succeded in smuggling Dainora back to Lithuania. Under constant threat of re-deportation she managed to get her teacher licence. She founded family, and it is her daughter Rasa Jukneviciené who is currently Lithuania's Minister of Defence. The book tells Dainora's and her mother's struggle to survive and to return to Lithuania. ”Tur-Retur Sibir” is the first eyewitness narrative of the communist savageness published in Norway. Her book is the retrospective Baltic parallel to Anne Frank's diary!

The Lithuanians are preparing the 4^th edition these days.

The book deserves to be translated and published in other languages and countries.

That is my challenge to my fellow consuls!

Skien, Telemark, Norway

Medio February 2011

Dainora Urboniené’s book «Tur-Retur Sibir» is a frightening narrative about how the soviets treated people in the Baltics during the years I myself grew up.

Vilnius – Lithuania

IRENA VEISAITE

Professor Irena Veisaite was born in Lithuania. She took an MA in German Language and Literature at Lomonosov State University in Moscow and a PhD at the University of Leningrad. By profession she is a philologist and theatre critic. She has taught world literature and the history of theatre at the Vilnius Pedagogical University; she is the author of over 200 articles, the co-author of some textbooks, and the editor of books mainly connected with theatre.

Professor Irena Veisaite has in 1990 together with Professor C. Kudaba initiated the Open Society Fund – Lithuania (OSFL). She was the vice chair of the board from 1990 to 1993 and the chair of  the OSF-L  board  from 1993 to 2000. She was the Chair of the Board of Founders of the Open Society Fund-Lithuania (OSF-L)from 2000 to 2002. She was also a member of the Open Society Institute main board in Budapest, of OSI Cultural and Educational Sub-Boards, the chair of the Stateless Cultur Center at the Vilnius Unversity, the Chair of the Baltic Cultural foundation, a member of the UNESCO National Committee in Lithuania,etc), from 2003 to 2007 she was a member of the Advisory board to the Ministry of Culture , 2008-2009 she was a member of the Advisory Board for the project “Vilnius-the European Cultural Capital 2009” etc.. As now she is the ombudsman of OSI,  the Chair of the United World Colleges (UWC) National Committee in Lithuania, the former chair and now a member of the curatorium of the Thomas Mann Cultural Centre in Nida (Lithuania), a member of the Commission for National awards at the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, a member of the Presidential Commission for all kinds of Governememtal awards. In the year 1995 professor I. Veisaite was awarded with the Gediminas orden (IV grade). In the year 2003 she was nominated by the Sugihara Foundation as the “Person of tolerance  for the year 2002”. In the year 2006 she was awarded by Vilnius Municipality with the Barbora Radvilaite medal. For the last 15 years she has also been involved in Holocaust education issues, she participated at many international conferences on the subject as well as published articles in the press on the perception of the Holocaust in Lithuania.

Paris – France

YVES PLASSERAUD

Born 1939. Paris, France. Doctor Juris, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, CEIPI, Strasbourg.

Attorney at Law (1965-1995). Lives in Paris (France), Married, 3 children

Former Lecturer in Universities (Bordeaux & Strasbourg-France, Alicante-Spain, Vilnius, Kaunas - Lithuania etc.). Author of numerous articles and books on minorities issues, the questions of identity and the the problem of racism and prejudice. Co-author of two books on the Jews of Lithuania, Lituanie juive (with H. Minczeles), Paris, 1996 Autrement, Les Litvaks (with H. Minczeles & S. Pourchier), La Découverte, Paris, 2008, translated in Lithuanian Lietuvos Zydai 1918-1940, Baltos Lankos, 2000. Chairman: Groupement pour les droits des Minorités (France).

Email : yplasseraud@wanadoo.fr

Tel Aviv – Israel

AMOS EIRAN

Amos Eiran has been a major presence in the business, financial and political realm in Israel and the United States for more than 40 years. After decades in both the private and public sectors, Mr. Eiran currently serves on the board of a number of major companies. His positions include: Chairman of the Investment Committee of Clal Insurance; Chairman and CEO of Tissera, Inc., a publicly-traded biotech company; Chairman of Bio Light Ltd.; Director of Delek Oil Explorations; Director of Medis El (NASDAQ: MDTL); and Determining Share Trustee of the Herods Hotel Complex. He also serves as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Israel.

Previously, Mr. Eiran held prominent government positions as the Director General of the Prime Minister’s office in Israel under Yitzhak Rabin and Chairman of the Government of Israel in the Industrial Cooperation Authority (RASHPAT). He also worked as a Counselor at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. In the financial world, Mr. Eiran has served as the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Mivtahim Pension Funds, Israel’s largest pension fund, and a Director on the Board of Bank Hapoalim and Bank Mizrachi (UMTB). He is also one of the founders of XTL Bio Pharma, and a member of its Board.

Mr. Eiran holds a BA from the American University in Washington, DC, an MA from Tel Aviv University, a Diploma in Business Administration from Harvard University and a Diploma from the Wharton Business School.

Email: eiran@zahav.net.il

Washington, D.C. - USA

ELLEN CASSEDY

Ellen Cassedy traces her Jewish family roots back to Rokiskis (Rakishok) and Siauliai (Shavl) in Lithuania.  Her writings about Lithuania past, present, and future have appeared in The Forward, Hadassah, Lilith, Bridges, and other publications.  She is the award-winning author of We Are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust (University of Nebraska Press, 2012), which appears in Lithuanian as Mes esame čia: Atsiminimai apie holokaustą Lietuvoje (Media Incognito Press, 2013). Her translations from Yiddish have been published in Pakn-treger, the magazine of the National Yiddish Book Center, and in Beautiful as the Moon, Radiant as the Stars (Warner Books, 2003.)  A resident of the Washington, D.C., area, she is a frequent speaker at a variety of venues. 
Visit her website at www.ellencassedy.com.