I agree 100 % with you about the thesis you wrote in this issue of the journal. Things in reality are exactly as you clearly and straight have written. The reason why you often get critics is the limited knowledge of short-term "visitors", such as business consultants, diplomat crops, coming here for some years and then trying to make a picture from official Lithuanian sources or lousy press articles. I think especially you and partly me (14th year passing here) with our good touch with local population, business-life, some understanding of language and Scandinavian background, values, are looking around without coloured spectacles. Still, almost every day on, with one's private and business life meet corruption, centralization of business (Rubikon, VP etc) and pre-agreed tenders, cartels.

Lithuania has got a lot of very good opportunities to become one of the success stories in Europe for agriculture, tourism, IT services, leading harbour country by the Baltic Sea etc. but the style must be changed as you say. Thanks, Aage, for your brave and honest articles earlier, now and in the future.
Krister Kastren,
Consul of Finland in Klaipeda, Lithuania