Section 3: LITHUANIA TODAY
THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Fri, 8th March, 2013 - (0) Comment
Vilnius Mayor and
his various roles
We have in recent days had a heated discussion in our VilNews Facebook Forum on whether Vilnius Municipality and the taxpayers should pay for the startup of a new national airline of Lithuania. The debate has subsequently also discussed Mayor Zuokas’ handling of this and other issues, including his dealings with a certain taxi company here in town. Below some of the comments from our VilNews Forum on Facebook:
About the taxpayers
Kostas Cerskus I feel sorry for the tax payers!
Daiva Repeckaite I'm thinking of re-registering in Kaunas to channel my taxes away from Vilnius.
About the planned new airline – AIR LITUANICA
Eythor Edvardsson I think everyone talking here understands the need of good transportation to and from Lithuania. I also believe that airline is a part of a countries identity. People here should not compare to airBaltic who wanted to swallow the world. That is not the case here. Just basic needs as I see it. For lack of flights to and from LT, business suffers but mostly tourism. Lithuania has many great things to offer to the rest of the world, both culture wise as well as business wise.
People forget to calculate why multiple affects great communication brings back to the country as well. I have no fear that this will be going fine.
Why Zokas? This was, if I remember one of his promises before elected, to get things done that the government has been talking about for years with absolutely no success. I have more believe in this in his leadership than in governmental lead. Look forward to see this happen!
Eythor Edvardsson People are coming and going and flight transportation is as necessary as a bridge over a river. You know how much effort I made in this field to see exactly this happen. Who does it is not the case. Just that it is being done.
It is still in my fresh memory when Vilnius was the culture Capital of Europe 2009. What a great opportunity to show the rest of the world the richness in the country’s history and culture. Then, FLYLAL collapsed for all the wrong reasons. And thousands of people who planned to visit the city had no opportunity to do so. All the millions of litas, time and effort of people for years to prepare this cultural year went down the drain. Participation in between 20-30 travel exhibitions around the world were done for nothing. Because? No airline communications. Truly very sad. A great opportunity lost. Driving force in the preparation was the city of Vilnius with Zuokas in the lead. I believe this was hard for him and his people to see and experience. Again, I am happy for LT if this idea gets real wings
Aage Myhre I totally agree with you Eythor Edvardsson. To see a well-founded Lithuanian airline would be nothing but awesome. The question is whether Mayor Zuokas' initiative is a real thing, or if this is just hot air, or maybe something totally different is behind it all?
Sergey Kanovich Every businessman will tell you that the worst business to start is when it is created not out of market needs but out from artificially created interests - someone already mentioned "business" motive - national pride. Which is not a commodity I guess. This market is tough. And all complaining how "bad" is the transport to VNO is not really fair with this statement - you have every major European airline flying in and out. And RyanAir with Wizz Air taking the rest. It is inventing the bicycle. And a nice PR to someone who never had invested a personal penny from his own pocket to all failed projects he had ever initiated before. With what has been published so far this is born to be a failure. I feel really sorry for the taxpayers
Eythor Edvardsson We all know that Zuokas comes with ideas. Some of them materialise, some not. I do hope this one does. Whether there is something ''behind'' this, I cannot see what at this moment. If so, then that will float up one day.
William Adan Pahl A good half the major cities in the USA are in a battle against corruption. Certainly the number is higher worldwide. Las Vegas is a testament to this historically. Before I read up on it will jump on the pro side of this argument in favor of the airline.
Aage Myhre I totally agree with those of you who think that Lithuania should have its own airline, although I personally believe a professional pan-Baltic company, without interference or ownership from the three governments, would be better. Let me give you the example of Norwegian Air Shuttle, which was started by an entrepreneur and a group of investors exactly 10 years ago. Zero governmental participation! Today, this airline is about to become Scandinavia's largest, number 9 in Europe, and in stark contrast to state-owned Scandinavian Airlines having good profits year after year!
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Air_Shuttle
Mayor Zuokas is no Mother Theresa
Sergey Kanovich any "national" mega idea fix is used to drain monies out of the budget (minus 1 billion Lt). That is why I am bit surprised that the driver without a car is paid merely 30,000LT month to make himself busy with trying to prove to 0'Leary that he is completely stupid and is unaware of hidden market possibilities of LT market... The ideas have a price for which he never paid. The price of bad ideas is always higher than the price of good one
Eythor Edvardsson Who the MD is I do not know. But for the right person in this case, 8500 EUR monthly salary would not be a crime.
Sergey Kanovich, when you talk hidden market possibilities, is it something you would like to share with us?
Sergey Kanovich Not a crime??? From a municipal budget with MINUS 1 billion LT that kind of salary is paid to a general without the army? This salary is an overkill in LT by all means. It is immoral to start with. Now, imagine that Reykjavik municipality instead of bringing roads to normal, renovating schools and hospitals etc, etc. having a budget deficit of that scale goes out and tells its citizens - you know what, we will fly you. You will be proud and you will pay for your pride. The rest priorities will wait. I wonder how long Reykjavik's or any other cities mayor would last after such statement. It is a scam. By hidden market possibilities I meant that there are none, because business is driven by market needs. There is no need in this airline. It will not be able to compete. I am sorry, it sounds like a decision to build a copy of Egyptian pyramids which will steal stupid tourist from Egypt.
Daiva Repeckaite A year ago or so, Zuokas promised to pick two homeless men in a shelter and lift them out of poverty. We've never heard of the men again (oops). Otherwise he has a very clear direction - further discriminate and ghettoize the city's poor and create a glossy city for the rich. You might say it is not a crime to prioritize the rich. But public sector redistribution is not necessary for this. The rich can take care of themselves. The purpose of public sector is to have roads, schools and decent living standards available for all.
Eythor Edvardsson Well, we all know Zuokas is no Mother Teresa and never will be.
Daiva Repeckaite Public services are not a charity! It's a government's duty. In 2009, the Conservative-led municipal gov't commissioned a study to find a solution for the Roma housing problem. They considered distributing vans, which would have better sanitary conditions than currently available. After the elections, the Zuokas-led municipal gov't seems to have ditched the study, and Zuokas personally supervised demolitions of the housing that the Roma currently use, in attempts to 'clean' the land before investors are expected to flock there following IKEA's arrival. The airport, btw, is also in the same territory. Not a single public kindergarten was established to meet the ever-growing demand and manage oversubscription. The municipality's lack of interest in urban planning left real estate developers building crammed neighborhoods without schools, parks or even sidewalks (we will see the effect of this in 5-7 years). So, do your basic duties before developing 'ideas'.
Eythor Edvardsson to Daiva Repeckaite: If this ''slice'' is for me, I am not here to stand up for Zuokas in his work. That he can do himself. Again; if for me, you are twisting my words. I come from a country of a strong welfare and I know the meaning if it for a healthy society.
Urban planning and planning in general has always been a mystery to me in Vilnius. It has lead to a chaotic urban areas and I totally agree, will cause problems in future. This city is not growing in a healthy way planning wise.
AIPORT TAXIES
Ulf Hallan Let me add on another perspective. Zuokas has so far started a new taxi company in Vilnius an now wants into the airline competition. What happens to those who actually make their living from this business when they get competition from state or city money? What may we expect next? Vilnius Municipality retail chain? Beauty saloons? Vilnius City Bank?
Daiva Repeckaite Regulations for taxi drivers became much stricter simultaneously. It's true, not all taxi businesses are transparent, but individual drivers barely make a living unless they work a crazy number of hours. When Zuokas taxi was introduced, more meticulous reporting and taxation rules fell on the heads of private businesses. Zuokas may be no Mother Theresa, but he'd better not be Kim Jong-il either.
Eythor Edvardsson No one argues about priorities even though I do want to see a national airline carrier. I will admit that things I am reading here do not look nice at all. This taxi business is at top of my head now because I just arrived back to Vilnius.
I called a taxi from the plane as I was used to do. When the taxi came he drove in circles until he managed to ''steal'' an opportunity for us to jump into the taxi at a dark spot by the airport terminal. So now it is a crime not to take the taxis that are waiting outside the terminal?
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Front page
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Fri, 8th March, 2013 - (0) Comment
Spring in Vilnius!
It is 8th of March, the International Women’s Day and the beginning of spring in Lithuania. Still snow and ice many places, but the melting process is now obvious. Spring is here!
Photos: Aage Myhre
Two young representatives of the world’s women,
in Vokiečių g. in the heart of Vilnius Old Town.
It's starting to turn green on the slopes around Gediminas' Tower.
The danger of avalanches from the old town roofs is now over.
Here a rooftop views of St. Catherine's Church and the
Europa Tower on the other side of River Neris.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Tue, 5th March, 2013 - (0) Comment
Is Lithuania’s national bird getting lazy?
Many storks no longer
bother flying to Africa
Lithuania has the highest density of white storks in the world,
considered the country’s national bird.
Photo: T. Marčiukaitis www.lietuva.lt
A new project will try to identify why the stork has changed migratory pattern. This writes Science Daily. The investigation has been launched by the University of East Anglia. Since the mid-1980s, a steadily increasing number of storks dropped their annual migration from northern Europe to their winter quarters in Africa.
Instead, both Portugal and Spain are now the final winter destinations for many storks, which feed on large open garbage dumps instead of crossing Sahara as they previously did.
The project will follow 15 adult storks in a year using GPS transmitters. The goal is to examine why they have changed their migratory behavior. GPS transmitters will reveal where storks forage for food and what movements they make between feeding areas.
Before 1995 there were only about 1000 wintering storks in Portugal whereas in 2008 there were over 10,000 wintering storks and the number continues to grow.
It is believed that a combination of climate change and the many open dumps that exist both in Portugal and Spain are among the factors why storks have dropped the long winter trip to Africa.
25 March is Lithuanian Stork Day! See: https://vilnews.com/?p=12622
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Sun, 3rd March, 2013 - (0) Comment
KAZIUKO MUGĖ 2013
The wood carver
and the fish woman
Photos: Aage Myhre
I met them at Kaziuko Mugė now this Sunday morning ... The wood carver and the woman who was there to fry fish for the thousands of visitors on the last day of this year's event ... The best outdoor market in the world, and a proud Lithuanian tradition for more than 400 years!
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Front page
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Sun, 3rd March, 2013 - (0) Comment
 By Vin Karnila |
See my slide show: KAZIUKO MUGĖ 2013 from Vilnius, Lithuania CLICK: http://youtu.be/pamXdIGDm2A |
Every year in every town throughout Lithuania, March starts off with the Kaziukas Fair, a ritual that marks the coming of spring, dedicated to St. Casimir, the patron saint of Lithuania. The festival originated in the 17th century, and by the 19th century it had developed into the fair and festival that is now known internationally.
During more ancient times many pilgrims came to Vilnius from various places for the celebration of St. Casimir's Day on the 4th of March which was the day of his passing. After services in the cathedral, the people lingered for a while. And it was this that gave rise to the Kaziukas Fair. Thousands of sellers, buyers and visitors came to these fairs which were held outdoors as they still are today.
I hope you enjoy the slide show of this year’s Kaziuko Mugė I put together for VilNews.com E-Magazine
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Thu, 28th February, 2013 - (2) Comment
It’s again time for
KAZIUKO MUGĖ!
Friday 1 – Sunday 3 March
The world’s best outdoor market
– since the early 1700s!
Text and photos: Aage Myhre, Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
It is so genuine that you can hardly believe it without seeing it with your own eyes. Lithuania's Kaziukas Fair (KAZIUKO MUGE) is like an undiscovered, undisrupted island in the huge ocean of 'plastic commercialism' that unfortunately characterizes so much of our today's fairs, markets and festivals.
Where else in the world can you find an outdoor market and festival that has been going on continuously through 300 years? What other nowadays' market is a declared plastic-free zone? Where else can you find a single market in which an entire nation's population still participates with enormous enthusiasm? In what other country can one experience what thousands of individuals from the countryside and the cities spend so much of their time through a whole year to produce of genuine artefacts - knitted, crocheted, sewed, carpentry - forged by a people who truly treasure their traditions in handicrafts and folk art?
Every single year in every town throughout Lithuania, March starts off with the Kaziukas Fair, a ritual that marks the coming of spring, dedicated to St. Casimir, the patron saint of Lithuania. The festival originated in the 17th century, and by the 19th century it had developed into the fair and festival that is now known internationally.
This year's fair takes place Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd of March and will be celebrated throughout the country, as well as in many Lithuanian strongholds around the world, for the complete weekend.
But the most genuine ones are of course to find in the very homeland, so please do not wait to check with your travel agent, maybe there still are available tickets!
Let’s meet for a mug of local beer and a fresh smoked snack from rural Lithuania!
The Kaziukas Fair is a declared plastic free zone.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Thu, 28th February, 2013 - (1) Comment
SAINT CASIMIR
1458 – 1484
The young prince, Casimir
died at the age of 25 on the 4th of March 1484.
St. Casimir, Lithuania's only Saint, is celebrated on the 4th of March (his death day). This celebration is the origin of the nation's annual Kaziukas Fair.
After his death, St. Casimir was so cherished by Lithuanians that stories of his life and miracles quickly went beyond the church walls and spread through the population and became tales and legends, hence no wonder that he has been so much remembered and celebrated, since the 17th Century primarily through the Kaziukas Fair.
St. Casimir was a true Lithuanian by birth, descending from the famous and respected Gediminaitis clan. The Lithuanian grand dukes Kestutis, Algirdas, Vytautas the Great and others belonged to this family. St. Casimir's father was Kazimieras Jogailaitis who ruled Lithuania (later along with Poland) from 1447.
Category : Lithuania today
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Some pictures from Kaziuko Mugė 2012
Thu, 28th February, 2013 - (0) Comment
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Tue, 5th February, 2013 - (0) Comment
Lithuanian heating costs reach astronomical heights:
Russian gas up 450%
in just seven years!
Europe’s dependence on Russian gas.
Lithuania pays 15% more than Latvia and Estonia,
25% more than Germany for the same Russian gas.
While gas prices have tended to fall globally in recent years thanks to deposits of shale gas in places like the U.S., Lithuanian households have looked on in horror in the past seven years as the retail cost of natural gas pumped from Siberia spiked 450 percent — or from $169 to $769 per 1,000 cubic meters.
This writes the Associated Press in an article this week, where they more than suggest that Russia uses its natural gas as a pressure point against Lithuania.
Lithuanians have seen prices soar over the past several years, especially since the shuttering of its only nuclear power plant in 2009, forcing the country to import more Russian gas to keep warm. Lithuania's decision to scrap atomic power over safety concerns has put it under a new kind of threat: intimidation from Russia, which critics say shows no hesitation to use its energy dominance to bully former vassal states.
Lithuania currently pays Russia a wholesale price of about $540 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas piped from Siberia, roughly 15 percent more than Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia and 25 percent more than Germany, writes Associated Press.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Front page
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Tue, 5th February, 2013 - (0) Comment
Paul Krugman, New York Times:
Is there any country where austerity policies have been a success?
|
The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has little good to say about the world’s austerity policies that we’ve seen during and after the financial crisis, policies that also were strenuously advocated by Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. Photo: Fred R. Conrad/ |
 |
In an opinion article in New York Times this week, Mr. Krugman writes:
Today I’d like to talk about the frantic effort to find some example, somewhere, of austerity policies that succeeded. For the advocates of fiscal austerity — the austerians — made promises as well as threats: austerity, they claimed, would both avert crisis and lead to prosperity.
For the advocates of fiscal austerity — the austerians — made promises as well as threats: austerity, they claimed, would both avert crisis and lead to prosperity.
And let nobody accuse the austerians of lacking a sense of romance; in fact, they’ve spent years looking for Mr. Goodpain.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Thu, 24th January, 2013 - (0) Comment
Has the spirit of
January 1991 returned?
Is there a new Lithuanian awakening in the making?
What do you, dear reader, think?
By Aage Myhre, editor-in-chief
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
The 22 years that have passed since January 1991, when the Lithuanian people in an exemplary, peaceful manner stood up against the violent Soviet re-occupation, have only rarely lived up to the expectations I and many with me had by then.
Neither Landsbergis, Brazauskas, nor later leaders delivered when the new statehood was to be developed during the 1990s.
The country's newfound freedom did not lead to the type of growth and better living conditions for the broad masses, that had been expected. Also, the warmer, friendlier and more human society we all waited for never occurred. When the people who had shown their support for the new won independence from the Soviet Union returned to their towns and villages in the spring of 1991, much of the community spirit was gone and did not appear since.
Different leaders have since those days made some half-hearted attempts to regain team feeling, cooperation and community spirit within groups of the Lithuanian people. These attempts have largely been met with shrug and distrust, and few politicians have gained genuine respect of their own people.
The EU membership in 2004 did not become the boost that had been expected. Certainly, the economy enjoyed a positive step forward, but not much positive happened for the broad masses of the people.
Therefore, the most striking result of the membership and the open borders to the West, was a mass exodus unparalleled in and for any other country of today.
The enormous crisis that began in 2008 made the situation even worse, almost unbearable for many, and one felt that it was only a matter of time before the country would collapse, emptied of inhabitants.
Then, a year or two ago, I felt that something was happening down in the grassroots of business people and others. I discovered more and more young professionals who began to define their own paths, no longer waiting for the older generations of leaders to show the way.
When I this year marked 13 January in the Lithuanian Parliament Building, 22 years after I in 1991 stood there with Professor Landsbergis looking out the window at the bonfires, barricades and the huge crowd of unarmed people who had gathered to protect their president and the country's future as a free nation, I saw something completely new to me …
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Thu, 17th January, 2013 - (1) Comment
The 2012 Parliament
| Political groups | Social Democratic (38) |
The Seimas of the Lithuanian Republic (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas), or simply the Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies (71), and the other half (70) are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation. A party must receive at least 5%, and a multi-party union at least 7%, of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Fri, 21st December, 2012 - (0) Comment
CELEBRATING
WINTER SOLSTICE
The Winter Solstice is unique among days of the year — the time of the longest night and the shortest day. The dark triumphs but only briefly. For the Solstice is also a turning point. From now on (until the Summer Solstice, at any rate), the nights grow shorter and the days grow longer, the dark wanes and the Sun waxes in power. From the dark womb of the night, the light is born.
Category : Featured blue / Lithuania today
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Sun, 9th December, 2012 - (0) Comment
Eastern Europe's
watchdog in the U.S.
A constantly relevant focus of CEEC is Russia's increased use of
"soft power" against Lithuania and the other 17 countries that
constitute Central and Eastern Europe.
Member of our VilNews Honorary Council and regular contributor as a columnist, Dr. Stan Backaitis, is also a member of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), Eastern Europe's watchdog in the United States. A constantly relevant focus of this organization is Russia's increased use of "soft power" against Lithuania and the other 17 countries that constitute CEE. Dr. Backaitis today has made us aware of a new U.S. law in the country's relations with Russia. The new law grants Russia and Moldova permanent normal trade relations, but it is coupled with the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which honors a dead Russian. The law blacklists Russians connected to the death of Magnitsky in police custody and to other gross human rights violations, prohibiting entrance to the United States and use of its banking system.
See also:
Russia can turn the lights out on Lithuania any time it pleases
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Russia fumes as U.S. Senate passes Magnitsky law aimed at human rights
Sun, 9th December, 2012 - (0) Comment
A tombstone on the grave of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in jail, at a cemetery in Moscow. A new law blacklists Russians connected to the death of Magnitsky in police custody.
The Washington Post
MOSCOW — The U.S. Senate on Thursday repealed a trade sanction imposed 38 years ago to force the Soviet Union to allow Jews and other religious minorities to emigrate, replacing it with a modern-day punishment for human rights abuse that has enraged Russian officials.
The old law, one of the last vestiges of the Cold War, was called the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, named after a U.S. senator and a representative. The new law, passed 92 to 4, grants Russia and Moldova permanent normal trade relations, but it is coupled with the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which honors a dead Russian. The law blacklists Russians connected to the death of Magnitsky in police custody and to other gross human rights violations, prohibiting entrance to the United States and use of its banking system.
“Today, we close a chapter in U.S. history,” Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), one of the prime movers of the Magnitsky bill, said during the debate on Jackson-Vanik. “It served its purpose. Today, we open a new chapter in U.S. leadership for human rights.”
How the United States can best promote democracy and human rights in Russia — and elsewhere — became a matter of agonizing and often bitter debate as pressure grew to repeal Jackson-Vanik. Not only was it widely considered a relic with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and freedom to emigrate from Russia, but, under the regulations of the World Trade Organization, which Russia joined this year, it also penalized American exporters.
Category : Lithuania today
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Sun, 9th December, 2012 - (0) Comment
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Front page
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OPINIONS
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
and epic battle for the
future
By Leonidas Donskis
Kaunas
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Immediately after Russia stepped in Syria, we understood that it is time to sum up the convoluted and long story about Ukraine and the EU - a story of pride and prejudice which has a chance to become a story of a new vision regained after self-inflicted blindness.
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
want to learn about the
new, scary propaganda
war between Russia,
The West and the
Baltic States!
believe their government
is corrupt
Lithuania is perceived to be the country with the most widespread government corruption, according to an international survey involving almost 40 countries.
students say no to
bribes for doctors
On International Anticorruption Day, the Special Investigation Service shifted their attention to medical institutions, where citizens encounter bribery most often. Doctors blame citizens for giving bribes while patients complain that, without bribes, they won't receive proper medical attention. Campaigners against corruption say that bribery would disappear if medical institutions themselves were to take resolute actions against corruption and made an effort to take care of their patients.
Facing a new reality
By Vygaudas Ušackas
EU Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Dear readers of VilNews,
It's great to see this online resource for people interested in Baltic affairs. I congratulate the editors. From my position as EU Ambassador to Russia, allow me to share some observations.
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
In such an environment, Europe's security architecture, which had been built and maintained for decades – and which the Baltic States are a part of – was seriously undermined by Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, followed by the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine. Our relations became a hostage to the situation in Ukraine.
Rather than coming closer and nurturing the same values, a divide gradually developed between us.
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
In such an environment, Europe's security architecture, which had been built and maintained for decades – and which the Baltic States are a part of – was seriously undermined by Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, followed by the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine. Our relations became a hostage to the situation in Ukraine.
Rather than coming closer and nurturing the same values, a divide gradually developed between us.
The likelihood of Putin
invading Lithuania
.jpg "lithuania today")
By Mikhail Iossel
Professor of English at Concordia University, Canada
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
The likelihood of Putin's invading Lithuania or fomenting a Donbass-style counterfeit pro-Russian uprising there, at this point, in my strong opinion, is no higher than that of his attacking Portugal, say, or Ecuador. Regardless of whether he might or might not, in principle, be interested in the insane idea of expanding Russia's geographic boundaries to those of the former USSR (and I for one do not believe that has ever been his goal), he knows this would be entirely unfeasible, both in near- and long-term historical perspective, for a variety of reasons. It is not going to happen. There will be no restoration of the Soviet Union as a geopolitical entity.
In tacit recognition of that immutable fact, the word combination "the Russian world," which Putin had brought into political existence ever so triumphantly back in the Spring of 2014, in the immediate wake of the Crimea annexation, has been taken out of circulation completely quite months ago, along with any mentions of the mythological "Novorossiya" (the eight large administrative areas of South-Central and South-Eastern Ukraine which -- again, according to the glowing, fever-minded postCrimean Putin -- supposedly, as per some unverifiable historical sources, used to belong to pre-historic, pre-Russian Russia thousands of years ago).
Putin finds himself at this point in a terrible bind of his own making. The simple truth of the matter is this: Russia's economy is in a shambles, and in a free-fall. Its decline started at least three years ago, prior to Putin's escapades on the international arena, and subsequently was further exacerbated to a great degree by the drastic slump in oil prices and, of course, the imposition of the Western sanctions against Russia (and, in a remarkable development of breathtaking inanity, along the lines of cutting off one's nose to spite one's face, Russia's reflexive imposition of "food" sanctions against... itself). Simply put, Putin just cannot afford any more largescale military ventures abroad, if only on purely fiscal grounds. Additionally, he knows now he wouldn't be able to get away with anything minimally extracurricular there anymore
In tacit recognition of that immutable fact, the word combination "the Russian world," which Putin had brought into political existence ever so triumphantly back in the Spring of 2014, in the immediate wake of the Crimea annexation, has been taken out of circulation completely quite months ago, along with any mentions of the mythological "Novorossiya" (the eight large administrative areas of South-Central and South-Eastern Ukraine which -- again, according to the glowing, fever-minded postCrimean Putin -- supposedly, as per some unverifiable historical sources, used to belong to pre-historic, pre-Russian Russia thousands of years ago).
Putin finds himself at this point in a terrible bind of his own making. The simple truth of the matter is this: Russia's economy is in a shambles, and in a free-fall. Its decline started at least three years ago, prior to Putin's escapades on the international arena, and subsequently was further exacerbated to a great degree by the drastic slump in oil prices and, of course, the imposition of the Western sanctions against Russia (and, in a remarkable development of breathtaking inanity, along the lines of cutting off one's nose to spite one's face, Russia's reflexive imposition of "food" sanctions against... itself). Simply put, Putin just cannot afford any more largescale military ventures abroad, if only on purely fiscal grounds. Additionally, he knows now he wouldn't be able to get away with anything minimally extracurricular there anymore
Are all Lithuanian energy
problems now resolved?
By Dr. Stasys Backaitis,
P.E., CSMP, SAE Fellow Member of Central and Eastern European Coalition, Washington, D.C., USA
Lithuania's Energy Timeline - from total dependence to independence
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania’s needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia’s oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Russia supplies oil to the refinery via Druzhba pipeline since 1980. Stops delivery in 2006.
Lithuania builds remote terminal in the Baltic sea in 1999 at Butinge to export/import oil.
Upon joining EU in 2004, Lithuania is seeking independence from Russia energy sources. Up to 2014, Lithuania imports all gas and most oil and electricity needs from Russia.
In 2014, Lithuania completes construction of LNG terminal at Klaipeda and begins LNG import In 2018/9, Lithuania and Poland plan to complete pipeline connection for LNG transmission.
By end of 2015, a 700 MW electric powerline (Nord Balt) will connect Lithuania with Sweeden.
In late 2016, a 1000 MW electric powerline (LITPOL-Link) will connect Lithuania with Poland.
LNG and electricity interconnections with EU assures energy independence from Russia.
LNG and electricity imports allow energy sharing with Latvia and Estonia
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania’s needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia’s oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Russia supplies oil to the refinery via Druzhba pipeline since 1980. Stops delivery in 2006.
Lithuania builds remote terminal in the Baltic sea in 1999 at Butinge to export/import oil.
Upon joining EU in 2004, Lithuania is seeking independence from Russia energy sources. Up to 2014, Lithuania imports all gas and most oil and electricity needs from Russia.
In 2014, Lithuania completes construction of LNG terminal at Klaipeda and begins LNG import In 2018/9, Lithuania and Poland plan to complete pipeline connection for LNG transmission.
By end of 2015, a 700 MW electric powerline (Nord Balt) will connect Lithuania with Sweeden.
In late 2016, a 1000 MW electric powerline (LITPOL-Link) will connect Lithuania with Poland.
LNG and electricity interconnections with EU assures energy independence from Russia.
LNG and electricity imports allow energy sharing with Latvia and Estonia
the Baltic Sea become
stronger in recent years?
By Eitvydas Bajarunas
Ambassador to Sweden
My answer to affirmative “yes”. Yes, Lithuanian ties across the Baltic Sea become as never before solid in recent years. For me the biggest achievement of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea region during recent years is boosting Baltic and Nordic ties. And not because of mere accident – Nordic direction was Lithuania’s strategic choice.
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania‘s independence can be described as a “building boom”. From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a “Nordic-Baltic community” – I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Lithuania took advantage of it very successfully because we soon realized that the assistance and support of the Nordic Countries could help us to play more a significant role in the European and transatlantic space as well as help us solve problems that were urgent for us and the entire region. Nordics, especially – Sweden, became the largest investors in Lithuania, not to mention their financial support for our states’ civil societies, democracy and other important processes which were particularly important to us as developing states that had restored their independence and statehood. And this is quite natural: Nordic and Baltic are united by common values, interests and clear goals. We cherish our freedom but we also care a great deal about everyone’s right to be free.
Several public opinion polls pointed out that Lithuanians believe Lithuania should be associated with the region of Northern Europe, and not with Eastern Europe. Northern orientation dominated in the cases of Estonia and Latvia as well. Orientation towards the North was even proposed by a foreign company that consulted the Government of Lithuania some years ago on image creation issues: in terms of economy Lithuania had rather be associated with the stable, advanced, socially responsible Nordic Countries than the post-soviet space.
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania‘s independence can be described as a “building boom”. From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a “Nordic-Baltic community” – I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Lithuania took advantage of it very successfully because we soon realized that the assistance and support of the Nordic Countries could help us to play more a significant role in the European and transatlantic space as well as help us solve problems that were urgent for us and the entire region. Nordics, especially – Sweden, became the largest investors in Lithuania, not to mention their financial support for our states’ civil societies, democracy and other important processes which were particularly important to us as developing states that had restored their independence and statehood. And this is quite natural: Nordic and Baltic are united by common values, interests and clear goals. We cherish our freedom but we also care a great deal about everyone’s right to be free.
Several public opinion polls pointed out that Lithuanians believe Lithuania should be associated with the region of Northern Europe, and not with Eastern Europe. Northern orientation dominated in the cases of Estonia and Latvia as well. Orientation towards the North was even proposed by a foreign company that consulted the Government of Lithuania some years ago on image creation issues: in terms of economy Lithuania had rather be associated with the stable, advanced, socially responsible Nordic Countries than the post-soviet space.
-
...
“Zuokas Airline” - AIR LITUANICA - to take off in June:
Is this sensible use of taxpayers' money in a time of crisis?
Follow the debate in our VilNews Forum
Ulf Hallan Richard Branson: "If you want to become a millionaire, start with one billion dollars and open an airline company."
Aage Myhre My personal comment is that this smells like failure. We have over many years seen state owned airlines in the Baltic and Nordic countries, all bankrupt or on the brink of bankruptcy ... The funny thing is that the people of Vilnius seem to accept this without protests... I can only imagine what the reactions would have been in a western capital ...
I fully understand that Lithuania needs an airline, and I think the name is very good! But I think, with due respect, that a mayor should be active with totally different things and leave it to experienced business people from the aviation industry to take care of establishing a new airline ...
Matilda Allen I am sorry, they're idiots! Well, maybe we have to look deeper? Paksas , Zuokas....? Money laundry?
Aage Myhre to Matilda Allen: We see something similar with regards to how the Lithuanian government has handled the crisis over the last 5 years ... People in Southern Europe, where wages and living conditions are much better than here, take to the streets for massive protests against their governments austerity measures, while here in Lithuania people only bow their heads or leave ...
Irene Simanavicius to Aage Myhre: You are 100% correct about the Mayor reaching out to the experts. Canadians almost paid billions for an aircraft carrier for our Military Defense, and because one aviation mechanic that lived in Houston who used to be part of our Air force and flew to the Arctic on a regular basis before he retired recognized the plane as NOT HAVING a twin engine. He mentioned it to someone and it got on the news and our politicians were RED FACED for being so stupid and falling for the marketing hype without thinking or asking the experts. It was just a shiny new brand new toy to them. The mechanic said when he flew in the severe cold one engine would completely seize up and if he didn't have the reserve, well...he wouldn't be here nor anyone he transported.(so many examples are out there from cocky politicians trying to make their mark):)
Sergey Kanovich Well, owning 83% of the stake while also owning 1 billion LT debt is something worth of Nobel in finance and economy. I bet that this will be a flying tram... On the other hand it is an excellent PR stunt at someone else expense (guess who's:)) again. And if it fails like other projects failed - who cares...
It also says that the MD of Air Lituanica without the wings is being paid 30,000 LT monthly salary. Municipality last year has allocated 0,5mio, then this year almost 3mio LT. It is not intended to be low cost airline. it is intended to suck monies out of already existing 1 billion LT whole... Unbelievable
Eugene Rangayah I have come across the a slide highlighting the proposal for the airline and noticed a Brian Joffe in the midst. Mr Joffe has been CEO of the Bidvest group in South Africa, which has a huge investment portfolio spanning the continent. With the support of people like him, with a good entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, the airline could turn out to be a success. However, I do think that it is very ambitious growth that had been forecast over the next 5 years. It does not seem apparent that any consideration had been taken on the competition from low cost carriers which have positioned themselves at VNO!
Arvi Vaalivonis This is more about the LT pride than business… -
KLAIPĖDA OPINIONS
Aage Myhre
Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@VilNews.com... - KLAIPĖDA MAYOR
Mayor of Klaipeda,
Vytautas Grubliauskas
A few days ago I interviewed the new Mayor of Klaipeda, Vytautas Grubliauskas. and I am in the following repeating three of the questions and his answers.
- Aage Myhre, Editor-in-Chief... -
1) Klaipėda, and I personally, welcomes gay prides and gay communities
QUESTION:
Lawmakers in Lithuania's Committee on Legal Affairs, under the leadership of MP Petras Gražulis, voted recently to make even more stringent censorship legislation against homosexuals in this country, saying that they should be able to fine people for the "propagation of homosexual relations" in public. This has earned condemnation from EU groups who say this is just another step in furthering an ultra conservative agenda in Lithuania. How gay hostile can Lithuania become before someone starts appealing to normal common sense?
THE MAYOR'S ANSWER:
Opposite to any former mayors of Vilnius and Petras Gražulis himself, Klaipėda, and I personally, welcomes gay prides and gay communities. The whole idea of censorship is based on ridiculous logics, as psychologist O. Tapinas said once correctly "if you observe birds for a while you will become bird yourself". I think we are talking about so called "10% society" and the rest 90% can't be "persuaded" into homosexuality. Denial will only increase frustration in society.... -
2) More transparent municipal services
Klaipeda Coat of Arms
MY QUESTION:
I have heard said that if Lithuania's politicians and bureaucrats were half as interested in the country they are supposed to serve as in their own pockets, this would already have been a fine, prosperous country. Fraud, corruption, briberies, lack of teamwork and transparency have all too often become terms used while describing the way Lithuania is managed. Do you have any clean-up plans ready?
THE MAYOR'S ANSWER:
Clear bureaucratic rules, short deadlines, e-government, well managed outsourced functions and motivated workforce is a key to more transparent municipal services. I see lots of space for improvement in Klaipėda. Biggest expectations I have towards introduction of electronic tender system and HR department.... -
3) Now it is time for pure living and jazzy soulsThe Mayor has background as a professional jazz trumpet player and singer.
MY QUESTION:
Finally, please let our huge, international VilNews readership know what are your visions and plans for Klaipeda and the Baltic Sea region over the years to come?
THE MAYOR'S ANSWER:
I will strive for Klaipėda to become an Eastern European avant-garde city in life quality and culture. For many years we had wrong priorities. Now it is time for pure living and jazzy souls. ... -
An Irish success story in Klaipeda
James A. Clarke, Managing Director of BNTP (Baltic Real-Estate Developments).
James was only 21 years old when he came to Klaipeda and Lithuania for the first time. The building engineer who had grown up at an Irish family farm had come here to buy horses on behalf of his uncle, Ireland's largest horse-farmer.
Something out here at the Lithuanian coast must have caught James' interest and curiosity even then, so after having travelled around and seen more of the world, he came back in 2003. And now the business got serious.
That very same year, BNTP (Baltic Real-Estate Developments) was established in Klaipeda, where it successfully developed the first modern business park in Lithuania - Klaipeda Business Park. Since then BNTP has expanded its portfolio through developments and acquisitions to include commercial centres and land plots in Lithuania and Latvia.
James has been very active and successful in his real estate endeavours since the start-up eight years ago.... -
Get rid of your taboos. We are all just human beings…
Clifford Lont, Chairman of Klaipeda International Business Club, has moved the long way from Suriname in South America to a much colder climate here at the Lithuanian coast.
At the end of my interview with Clifford Lont, I said to him:
"Clifford, I have two remaining questions for you this Sunday afternoon here at the river edge in Klaipeda."
Question number 1: "Do you have something to say to all the young people who are about to leave Lithuania in an emigration flow that seems to have no end?"
Question number 2: "Have you experienced racism here in Lithuania, and what is in case your normal reaction?"
It should be noted that Clifford does not seem to be much hampered by his dark skin colour, even here where so few stand just as much out as he does. He flirts lightly with the waitress in the outdoor restaurant where we sit. He smiles and nods to people passing by. He has obviously become a familiar face to many over the years he has lived here. Then he answers my questions:
To question 1: "Do not run away. Because by doing that you contribute to emptying your home country for dynamic young people and good workers. Stay here. Those who dare to stay behind will be the winners in the end!"
To question 2: "Well, let me first say that many do not know that there are black people also in South America. And to those with racist tendencies I would simply say: Get rid of your taboos. We are all just human beings..."... - The biggest challenge is to find people willing to work at our shipyard
Arnold Šileika, General Director of Klaipeda's Western Shipyard
Arnold Šileika has been working in Klaipeda's Western Shipyard since 1989, first as foreman, then as the company's General Director for the last ten years.
The company has now 2.000 employees, plus 1.000 more working on the territory for the shipyard on contract basis, totally 3.000 persons.
"You have, in other words, seen the whole transition from having been Soviet-ruled to becoming a Western company," I state.
And the director responds, still just as open and straight forward, that the biggest challenge has been to get workers to change their mentality from eastern to western ways of thinking.
"But now, today, the biggest challenge is actually to find people who want to work here," he says. "This despite the fact that we pay almost twice as high wages as what the labour market in Lithuania in general offers. We actually have had to start to bring in workers from Bulgaria and Romania to fulfill our obligations," he says.... - Sometimes I feel the authorities are more eager to create problems than to help out
Gunnvald Laukhammer, General Director of Lido Marine
Gunnvald Laukhammer is not exactly thrilled with the way the Lithuanian authorities often are acting.
"Sometimes I feel they are more eager to create problems than to help out," he says. "Take as an example that our company Baltic Marine Furniture now for a long period of time has tried to get permission to extend the furniture workshop building in Kretinga. But instead of welcoming new jobs and investments with open arms, the local authorities seem to do what they can to thwart us, and we still have not received a building permit for a rather simple building extension, on our own land, after about two years of waiting. Now another winter may come before we can start building," he says.
Gunnvald is not overexcited when he talks about the many bureaucrats and politicians he thinks Lithuania has too many of.
"I simply no longer allow myself to get annoyed at how poorly the systems in this country often works," he says in his laconic, Western-Norwegian, manner.
"It is, however, strange to see," he says, "that an investor and export company like ours is getting no support or help from the local Lithuanian authorities. I feel, on the contrary, that they sometimes are attempting to cheat and take unfair advantage of us and other foreign companies here."
"For a company like ours, maybe not so large but still engaged in important export-oriented industry, bringing value to the country in terms of wages, taxes, purchase of equipment /materials and trade with other local business, etc., etc., the authorities should exercise benevolence to give us best possible conditions to ensure that companies like ours can evolve as quickly as possible. They should not create unnecessary delays and obstacles. We all loose on that."... - At first glance the planned LNG terminal shouldn’t represent a negative risk for the environment
Rokas Masiulis, General Manager of Klaipedos Nafta
"Klaipedos Nafta plans the new LNG terminal to have a capacity of 2-3 billion cubic meters of gas per year, and that it will cost some EUR 200-300 million to build. Can you elucidate more on these figures? Maybe also exemplify a bit on how many gas tankers (ships) that will represent per year, etc.? And what about the environmental risks, pollution etc. having the LNG terminal located so close to Klaipeda city?"
"The main parameters are so far preliminary, so this is not the time to speculate. In 3-4 months, with Fluor advice, we will determine the main parameters and then we will have a vision of the business plan.
Environmental impact assessment will determine any existing environmental risk, pollution and other risks. It is planned to have EIA report ready by the end of 2012. At the first glance it shouldn't be a negative risk. There are several examples in the world where terminals are located very close to a city, i.e. Barcelona (Enagas)."... - I was astonished to see what a nice area this is, when I first came here
General Manager Tobias Ammon at Radisson Blu Hotel in Klaipeda.
The Radisson Blu Hotel in Klaipeda has just celebrated its first ten years as the only truly international luxury hotel at Lithuania's beautiful seacoast.
Two months ago the hotel got a new General Manager, German Tobias Ammon (35), and I am sitting down with him in the hotel's breakfast room this early July morning to let him explain to you, dear readers, why you should visit Klaipeda and his hotel – this summer as well as when the autumn winds already make the endless Baltic Sea waves powerfully roll in towards the port city shores.
"I must admit that I had to ask where Klaipeda is when I was offered this position, but I was astonished to see what a nice area this is, when I first came here," tells the young manager, who now has moved here with wife and little daughter. He and his little family are now in full swing "testing Klaipeda as travel destination", and they are using their bicycles to do exactly that!
"This area is really ideal for bikes, and we are now using our weekends to bike to the fantastic beaches in the outskirts of the city, riding through beautiful coastal pine tree forests, villages and over the wavy, green landscapes that characterise this area," he tells....
- Lithuania turns its back on us
The trick is, what to do about it or, for those of us living outside, why should we be concerned? As life goes on, roots are deepened overseas and Lithuania turns its back on us or makes no effort to either woo back the Diaspora, attract tourists or foreign investment (are these all culturally linked?) an "ace up Lithuania's sleeve" will be lost forever.
To be sure, internally generated progress over the last 20 years has been great and the cultural life, in Vilnius particularly, makes life here in Cleveland, or almost anywhere else I can afford to live, pretty dull.
Lithuania, however, given its precarious geographic position and small population needs to be exceptional in how it organizes itself and how it takes advantage of every scrap of resource (particularly human) that it can.
Rimas Aukstuolis,
Cleveland (American-Lithuanian)
Vice President Structured Trade Finance, Fifth Third Bank
- The truth is that the Soviet communist nomenklatura has hijacked Lithuania's development in the last two decades
Unfortunately, the "inconvenient truth" is that the Soviet communist nomenklatura has hijacked Lithuania's development in the last almost two decades and, consequently, our country has largely horribly wasted a truly impressive and immense political and economic capital of global good will, so excruciatingly hard earned by the Victims of the January 13th, 1991 brutal Soviet aggression and by the blood and brains of the legendary Lithuanian freedom fighters, world renowned anti-communist dissident movements, and political refugees in the West in the post-WW II years.
Valdas Samonis, PhD, CPC (Canadian – Lithuanian)
The Web Professor of Global Management (SM) - You are again doing something that Lithuanian officials ought to do
I got the address of VilNews from my American friend. Best congratulations. You are again doing something that Lithuanian officials ought to do.
Vilius Kavaliauskas, advisor of former PM Algirdas Brazauskas - Far away from home, we need a publication different from the mainstream news
Congratulations with VilNews! Far away from home, we need a publication different from the mainstream news portals, which are often permeated with negative attitude and serving narrow, short-term interests. Your interest to history and the international dimension of Lithuania has made your previous publications a very engaging reading. I trust VilNews will remain enthusiastic, honest and insightful. Please rest assured that you have a dedicated reader in Africa.
Paulius Kulikauskas, Nairobi, Kenya
- We really needed something like this long ago
Let me express my warmest greetings for such a wonderful job. I'm sure it will contribute a lot to creating a better image of Lithuania in the world. We really needed something like this long ago.
Kristina Lukošiūtė, Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania
Director of Corporate Affairs - Getting this undertaking off the ground is awe-inspiring
Congratulations on the VilNews debut in this new, expanded format. It looks very good indeed, is highly informative, and I wish you much success with it. The sheer amount of effort and dedication that must have gone into getting this undertaking off the ground is quite awe-inspiring. You are doing an important, noble thing for the beautiful country you love. It is indeed an exceptionally interesting, genuinely fascinating country, with a turbulent past and difficult present -- a place that, despite (and in part, due to) the many still-unresolved issues of history, never is not-interesting, where "the past is not dead. It isn't even past," to quote Faulkner -- and as someone who also has been held under its thrall for many years, I share your desire to see as many people as possible the world over to discover it, come visit -- and fall in love with it, too, and keep coming back. My very best wishes to VilNews.
Mikhail Iossel, Professor, Montreal, Canada - Informative and well-balanced news forum
Your dedication to this e-magazine is remarkable. Thank you for providing such an informative and well-balanced news forum.
Jurate Burns, Destin Library Director
Destin, Florida, USA
- On this very cold day I can feel the warmth of VilNews!
Great! Congratulations! On this very cold day I can feel the warmth out of VilNews!
Justas Dvarionas, Vilnius - Such a wonderful magazine
Congrats on launching of such a wonderful online magazine. Wish you all the best.
Sudhir Sajwan, India - I greatly appreciate you courage
A hearty congratulations on launch of your new e-publication! I've already read parts of the first edition, and I look forward to future instalments. While I enjoy every bit of VilNews, I greatly appreciate your interest and courage in publishing articles on tough subjects. My connection with Lithuania? My grandfather emigrated to the US from a small village near Siauliai in 1912, and today I find myself as a member of the board of directors for the Auksuciai Foundation.
Ted Shapas, Alamo, California - Aloha from Hawaii!
Thanks for keeping me posted these last few months while I enjoy the winter in sunny and warm Hawaii. I want to congratulate you for your great new idea and wish you all the best with the project. You can count on me to be an avid reader.
Aloha, Elena Bradunas Aglinskas - A fantastic achievement
Very many congratulations on a fantastic achievement with producing such a very professional looking site and highly informative.
Peter Swanson, (British-Lithuanian Society), UK
- To achieve great results it takes fundamental, personal values, sharp vision continuous commitment, and hard work
Some world leaders loud the phrases "yes we can" and "change you can trust (what change: good or bad?)"... However, what they fail to understand is that to achieve great results it takes fundamental, personal values, sharp vision, continuous commitment, and hard work. That is why they fail and You succeed!
Romas Brickus, Cape Cod Island, USA - You did it!!
This looks great and what amazing content! You did it!! I'm looking forward to contributing... Labai aciu for all you do for Lithuania,
Marina Farrell, Denver Colorado, USA - We strongly oppose such "improvement" of business conditions from the government
Rūta Vainienė
The Government has given the go-ahead to the idea of the bankruptcy of natural persons, but it still needs to be endorsed by the Parliament. Therefore we warned the legislators once again that this move would be unsound since it would foster people's irresponsibility, provoke living above people's financial capacities and engender other negative results. The government is constantly speaking about improving the business climate; however, speeches remain speeches and, on top of that, authorities devise new regulations and sanctions for corporate executives. We strongly oppose such "improvement" of business conditions and propose other solutions.
We reminded the policy makers about the inveterate flaws of the social security system (Sodra), also highlighting that sweeping changes need to be undertaken to amend the situation.
More information on our activities can be found in our webpage www.freema.org.
Rūta Vainienė
President,
Lithuanian Free market Institute
VilNews e-magazine is published in Vilnius, Lithuania. Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Aage Myhre. Inquires to the editors: editor@VilNews.com.
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