Section 3: LITHUANIA TODAY
THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Over the River and through the Woods
Sat, 4th August, 2012 - (0) Comment
Kestutis Eidukonis tells us in this story about his experiences on what you have to expect when you travel out of Vilnius to experience the Lithuanian countryside…
As a frequent visitor to Lithuania, I find an interesting disconnect from beautiful Vilnius and the rest of the countryside - I do not mean Kaunas or the rest of the major cities, but the real countryside where the rest of the Lithuania lives, works and fights their daily fight with bureaucracy and the legacy of Homo Sovieticus.
In Vilnius, you have the beauty of Old Town (Senamiestis) Pilies street and all that that entails. Sure there is the occasional fight with the beggars, the graffiti and the out of control druggie or local character of interest such as Grafas or Rozyte. In the "Kaimas" however you are dealing with people who take every occasion to get drunk, who are set in the old ways. The un mown grass, the flies, the mosquitoes, the bad roads, the problem of getting anything fixed. The lack of motivation of some of the locals. The negative attitudes towards city folks and the government. Try to get a plumber or electrician to drive 40 kilometers to fix anything. All these problems however pale in comparison to the biggest battle that lies ahead for anyone who plans to farm or work on reforestation.
Category : Lithuania today
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Sat, 28th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Thu, 26th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
Northern Europe’s best
summer climate! 
THURSDAY 26 JULY 2012: Pilies Street, the vibrant, active pedestrian street
in the heart of Vilnius Old Town. You should come here to enjoy
Northern Europe's best summer climate. Why wait?
There are still many around the world not knowing what a wonderful summer climate Lithuania is blessed with. I myself was very surprised when I came here 20 years ago and found a country and a city, Vilnius, where temperatures and number of sunny summer days often are comparable to what you otherwise would have to travel much closer to the Mediterranean beaches to find.
What I also have seen during these 20 years is that while many neighbouring countries quite often suffer from either drought or floods, Lithuania normally avoids such disasters. We can have heavy showers, but they usually last only a few hours and rarely cause major damage. We can have temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), but the normal temperature level is within comfortable 22-30°C (72-86°F).
Right now the summer is just great here, although this year we have not had as much sunshine and as high temperatures as we are accustomed to. Forecasts for the rest of July, however, are phenomenal!
The great summer weather is in stark contrast to neighbouring countries in Scandinavia and north western Europe where one this year is experiencing one of the coldest and wettest summers ever. The powerful winds and the worst rain showers from the Atlantic Ocean have virtually lost all power before they come here.
Hurricanes and severe storms are, at worst, a slight breeze on those few occasions when they reach Lithuania. Rain storms are reduced to light drizzle when they arrive here. But usually the bad weathers do not reach as far east as hereto.
Unfortunately, the winter months here are not that excellent. They can often be cold, nasty and very gloomy. Fortunately, we rarely experience heavy winds, and it is usually not too much snow. The worst of the winters here is the gloominess, and that the temperatures may well drop down to minus 25-30°C (minus 13-22°F).for extended periods.
But it often happens that in April the summer arrives in full force and remains here until November. So now we are in the middle of the fantastic weather period. No reason to complain, in other words. Winter is many months away.
Now it's time to enjoy the lovely summer here. The best in Northern Europe!
Aage Myhre
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Video from the “Pilies Pedestrian River” in Vilnius Old Town
Sat, 14th July, 2012 - (3) Comment
All week we have been having scattered thunderstorms in Lithuania. Thursday 12 July we had a storm come through late afternoon that dropped “a little” rain on Old Town.
Rather than tell you about it I thought it would be better to show you what Pilies Gatve looked like after this “little shower”.
For a rough translation of the title and comment:
Das ist lietus in Vilnius / 2012 07 12 pilies gatves upe (This seems to be half German and Half Lithuanian) - This is rain in Vilnius 12 July 2012. Pilies Gatve river
2012 liepos 12 pilies gatve plauke kedes ir stalai. Katinu nebuvo. O pati liutis buvo idomi. Pasirodo tos kedes ir stalai buvo cili picos nuosavybe. Ha! – 12 July 2012 on Pilies Gatvė swam chairs and tables. Cats were not there. And (the) rain was interesting. It appears that (the) chairs and tables were (the) property of Čili Pizzeria. Ha!
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Wed, 11th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
Zagare Cherry Festival
„You can‘t fudge the history“
12–15th of July 2012
Zagare Cherry Festival – a traditional event which helps to develop Northern Lithuania, former Semigallian territory, culture, unique and attractive image of Zagare as one of the oldest towns in Lithuania and beautiful tourism destination, promoting the development of this the former Northern Lithuanian cultural center of the eighteenth century. Cherry Festival and Zagare is an inexhaustible storehouse of knowledge, new impressions and events. Culturally crossing a couple of centuries of Zagare history, the eighth Cherry Festival will help to discover, explore and understand the uniqueness of the town. The main event of the festival, using historical materials and staged events of the past, will raise from oblivion the image of the historical market square. Although the present town and the town of those old separates only 200 years time, these "cultural centers" in Cherry Festival will be closer together than ever before. The time machine and all the characters will carry away to the past where the ancient craftsmen is working, merchants schooling, costumed waiters invite for dinner, the bagpipe and an old gramophone begin to play, still managed to play the older version of the melody than itself, which touched both young and old hearts...
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Is Lithuanian mafia regaining strength?
Wed, 4th July, 2012 - (1) Comment
Andy Hernandez after the mafia attack last Friday.
My friend, Filipino Andy Hernandez, a veteran Newsweek war photographer who now lives in Lithuania, where he, among other things, makes his living by owning and operating a handful of restaurants, was brutally beaten in one of his own restaurants last Friday.
The attack on Andy and his wife appears to be racially motivated, and unfortunately, racism is a very, very serious problem in present day Lithuania.
It seems, also, as if the recession has provided various mafia groups more room and more power. Smuggling and production of drugs, human trafficking, prostitution and other things with a basis in Lithuanian mafia groups is an increasingly serious problem for Europe.
The assault on Andy and his wife is only the tip of an iceberg that is growing ever greater.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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Local mafia boss arrested for the assault
Wed, 4th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
A Vilnius court on Tuesday sanctioned arrest of Stanislovas Narkevičius,
who is suspected of having assaulted a Filipino businessman in the town
of Trakai, 30 km from Vilnius. The man was arrested for two weeks.
"15 Minutes" photo. / Stanislav Narkevicius
Airinė Šerelytė, the court spokeswoman, confirmed to Baltic News Service (BNS) that the court had sanctioned arrest of Stanislovas Narkevičius, aka Narkuša.
Prosecutors had asked the court to arrest Narkevičius for three months.
On Monday, prosecutors launched an investigation into the assault of Andy Hernandez, 54, and his wife, 39. Hernandez owns a café in Trakai and his wife works as director there.
The incident took place at around 9:30 PM on Friday. A group of men entered the café and assaulted Hernandez and his wife. They were later both taken to hospital.
Narkevičius was detained for affray on Sunday. He faces up to two years in prison.
Žana Sokolovska, a prosecutor in charge of the investigation, told BNS there might be more suspects in this case.
Hernandez filmed the assault with his mobile phone and the video was published online. It shows one of the assailants cursing the café's staff.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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17 years since execution of Vilnius mafia boss
Wed, 4th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
Boris Dekanidze, head of the "Vilnius Brigade", the last person executed by
Lithuania prior to its abolition of the death penalty in 1998.
Boris Dekanidze was the head of the "Vilnius Brigade" organized crime gang in Lithuania. In 1994, he was convicted of ordering the murder of a journalist and was executed. Dekanidze was the last person executed by Lithuania prior to its abolition of the death penalty in 1998.
Dekanidze was born in Lithuania to Georgian Jewish immigrants. He was a stateless person, not having been granted citizenship in Lithuania or Georgia. In Vilnius, he was a leader of the Vilnius Brigade mafia group.
In 1993, after receiving a number of death threats, Vitas Lingys, one of the founders and publishers of the newspaper Respublika, was shot at point-blank range near his home in Vilnius. Dekanidze was arrested and charged with ordering the murder, which police said was carried out by another mafia guy, Igor Akhremov.
In a 1994 trial, Dekanidze was convicted of deliberate murder by a three-judge panel. Dakanidze claimed he was innocent, and the evidence against him was primarily the testimony of Akhremov, who claimed to have carryied out the killing on Dekanidze's orders. On 10 November 1994, Dekanidze was sentenced to death and Akhremov was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Lithuanian authorities shut down the Ignalina nuclear power plant after a terrorist threat was made against it the day after the convictions were handed down. Dekanidze appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, but it ruled in February 1995 that there were no grounds for reviewing the death sentence. His appeal for clemency to President Algirdas Brazauskas was also refused.
Dekanidze was executed on 12 July 1995 in Vilnius by a single shot to the back of his head. The execution has been criticised at being carried out even as the Lithuanian parliament was debating abolition of the death penalty.
No one has been executed by Lithuania since Dekanidze's death. Lithuania abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1998 after the Lithuanian Constitutional Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Mafia hitman set free
Wed, 4th July, 2012 - (0) Comment
Igor Akhremov.
Igor Akhremov, a member of the criminal gang Vilnius Brigade who killed journalist Vitas Lingys in 1994 was released on parole in April this year.
Vilnius Regional Court overturned the ruling of Vilnius Third District Court and upheld Akhremov's appeal. On 2 March Vilnius Third District Court had rejected the offer of Vilnius Correction House to release Akhremov on parole. The Court said that upon his release the principle of justice would not be achieved as he serves for three extremely dangerous activities.
While Vilnius Regional Court satisfied the appeal describing him as a friendly and polite person, known for good behaviour in prison. Akhremov was assigned to the lowest risk group. The ruling of Vilnius Regional Court is final, not subject to appeal and comes into force immediately. In 1994, Akhremov was convicted for murdering journalist Lingys of the daily Respublika on 12 October 1993.
Boris Dekanidze, the then leader of the criminal gang Vilnius Brigade, who ordered the murder, was sentenced to capital punishment. At first, the court sentenced Akhremov to life imprisonment, but later the Supreme Court reduced the sentence to 25 years of imprisonment. His term of punishment was to expire in autumn 2018.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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The tense Polish – Lithuanian relations
Sat, 23rd June, 2012 - (11) Comment
A satirical picture from interwar Polish press (around 1925-1935): a caricature of Marshal Józef Piłsudski and Lithuania, criticizing Lithuanian unwillingness to compromise over Vilnius region. Marshal Piłsudski offers the sausage labeled "agreement" to the dog (with the collar labeled Lithuania); the dog barking
"Wilno, wilno, wilno" replies: "Even if you were to give me Wilno, I would
bark for Grodno and Białystok, because this is who I am."
The tension will continue, until Poland will treat Lithuania
again as a sovereign and independent country
Opnion: Algimantas Gureckas
During the interwar period between First and Second World Wars the political leadership of reconstituted Poland aspired to a European great power status and conducted a policy of territorial expansion against its neighboring countries. As a result of several military campaigns in 1919-1920, Poland acquired considerable territories inhabited by non-Polish populations [see our VilNews articles on the Polish/Lithuanian war 1919-1920 at https://vilnews.com/?p=11551].
In Yalta and Potsdam conferences of 1945, the leaders of the victorious powers, United States of America, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, established post-war borders of the Polish Republic. They endorsed the 1920 Curzon Line as its eastern frontier (1). This detached Western Ukraine, Western Belarus (2), and Vilnius region from Poland. In order to compensate Poland for the loss of these extensive, albeit mostly non-Polish territories, they assigned to it highly developed German territories of southern East Prussia, eastern Pomerania, Neumark, and Silesia (3). The victorious powers also autorized the expulsion of the entire German population from these territories(4).
The Polish people accepted the German lands as their due compensation for their suffering under the harsh German occupation during the war, but they regarded the loss of the eastern borderlands ("Kresy") as unjust detachment of territories lawfully belonging to the Polish state. However, Polish political leadership, the ruling communist regime, as well as the democratic underground, realized that any Polish claims to the lost territories in the East would undermine the Polish title to the newly acquired valuable lands in the West. Thus, eventually the view promoted by Jerzy Giedroyc, editor of an influential journal Kultura, and his collaborator Juliusz Mieroszewski prevailedthat Polish nation and state should sincerely renounce any claims to the interwar eastern territories.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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24 June is Lithuanian Midsummer Day!
Sat, 23rd June, 2012 - (0) Comment
The holiday, in fact, is not the Midsummer Day, June 24, but the evening and night preceding it. The holiday coincides with the summer solstice. At the beginning of the 20th century it was observed all over Lithuania, now it is more popular in the northern and central parts of the country. Although St. John the Baptist occupies a very important place in the hierarchy of saints, the Church does not attach any great importance to the celebration of his nativity, which falls on the Midsummer Day. It is a festival of simple people, connected with the veneration of fire. Young girls adorn their heads with flower wreaths. A tall pole with a wooden wheel soaked in tar or filled with birch bark is hoisted at the top of the highest hill in the vicinity. Men whose names are Jonas (John) set the wheels on fire and make bonfires around it. In some places a second pole is hoisted with flowers and herbs. Young people dance round the fire, sing songs about rye, play games, men try to jump over the fire. The burning wheels on the poles are rolled down the hill into a river or a lake at its foot, men jumping over it all along. On the Midsummer Day people weed the rye and burn all the weeds.
On Midsummer Day's morning witches acquire special powers, they drag towels over the dewy grass to affect cows' milk. To save their cows from the witches' magic farmers shut them in cowsheds for the Midsummer Night and stick bunches of nettle in the door to scare the witches away. On Midsummer Day cows are driven out to pasture in the early after- noon when there is no more dew on the grass. Horses, however, are left to graze in the open throughout the night, or the witches magic has no effect on them.
On Midsummer Day dew has special healing powers. Young girls wash their faces in it to make themselves beautiful, older people do the same to make themselves younger. It is good to walk barefoot in dew on Midsummer Day's morning, for it saves the skin from getting chapped.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Front page
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Many Lithuanians living abroad turn their backs on the home country
Thu, 31st May, 2012 - (0) Comment
The new generations are leaving the country in droves and very few from the country's diaspora groups plan to come home to contribute to the reconstruction of this once fine and proud country.
Our series of articles through April and May has revealed enormous discrepancies between Lithuania's current leadership and the large group of Lithuanians living outside their homeland.
It is assumed that the country's best educated and economically active segment of the population now lives in Western Europe, the USA and sometimes other countries, but that today's leaders do not do much to reach out to them, start the kind of communication that is necessary to get this country on its feet again.
Obviously, this is tragic. All Lithuanians love their homeland, but feel that the government and the leadership generally do little to facilitate for the country to grow healthy and successful.
Meanwhile, the young, non corrupt professionals are very reluctant to assume political office. "We do not want to stick your hand into this overgrown wasp's nest," we have heard several say. The result is that the new generations are leaving the country in droves and that very few from the country's diaspora groups plan to come home to contribute to the reconstruction of this once fine and proud country.
We proposed a few days ago that Lithuanians outside their home country should start coming back home to contribute to new growth and better living conditions here. These are some of the responses we have recorded.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Viktorija Ruškulienė
Once only corrupt government and retired elderly are left, Lithuania's economy will reach the very bottom and push itself up
Once only corrupt government and retired elderly are left, Lithuania's economy will reach the very bottom and push itself up: things will start to change, hopefully for the better. As there will be no one to be robbed, the ex-KGB-today-"democratically"-elected-mob-government will follow the path of their foreign invested funds and retire outside of Lithuania. Hopefully there still will be some Lithuanians willing to return back to their homeland...
Some more realistic politicians suggest to open Lithuanian job market for Belarus young professionals and political refugees, with a promise of European citizenship after 7 years working and paying taxes in Lithuania. This will become some "injection" to keep economy floating at the level it is today, but what will happen if Belarus elects new government and joins EU? Will people from Asia's developing countries be interested in cold climate and hopeless economy refuge?
Lithuania loves money, sent by expatriates, though...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Gochin
Lithuania does NOT love the expatriate community. If the country of Lithuania rejects us, why maintain our Lithuanian identity?
Lithuania does NOT love the expatriate community. Rather, LT does EVERYTHING possible to reject them. Loyalty has to work both ways. The days of the state being a slave-master and the citizens being mindless obedient drones are over.
If the country of Lithuania rejects us, why maintain our Lithuanian identity?
The people have to protest. If nobody does, nothing will improve.
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today / Lithuania in the world
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Remembering Lithuania’s Cardinal Sladkevicius 12th Anniversary 2012
Mon, 28th May, 2012 - (3) Comment
Vincentas Sladkevičius, MIC
(August 20, 1920—May 28, 2000)
Vincentas Sladkevičius, MIC (August 20, 1920—May 28, 2000) was a Lithuanian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Kaunas from 1989 to 1996, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1988.
Vincentas Sladkevičius was born in Žasliai, Kaišiadorys, to Mykolas Sladkevičius and his wife Uršule Kavaliauskaite. He was the youngest of five children, his siblings being named Ona, Emilija, Jonas and Marija. After studying at the Kaunas Priest Seminary and Theological Faculty in Kaunas, Sladkevičius was ordained to the priesthood on March 25, 1944. He then did pastoral work in Kaišiadorys until 1959, including serving as a professor and the prefect of studies and discipline at the Kaunas seminary.
On November 14, 1957, Sladkevičius was appointed Auxiliary Bishop sedi datus of Kaišiadorys and Titular Bishop of Abora. He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 25 from Bishop Teofilius Matulionis. However, Bishop Sladkevičius was impeded from performing his ministry by his country's Communist government, and he took up residence at Nemunėlio Radviliškis, where he was under virtual house arrest from 1963 to 1982. He was named Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Kaišiadorys on July 15, 1982, and became President of the Lithuanian Episcopal Conference on April 27, 1988.
Pope John Paul II created Sladkevičius Cardinal Priest of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella in the consistory of June 28, 1988, and later Archbishop of Kaunas on March 10, 1989. In 1993 the Cardinal entered the Congregation of the Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception. He resigned as Kaunas' archbishop on May 4, 1996, after seven years of service. He was awarded the Order of Vytautas the Great in 1998.
V. Sladkevičius died in Kaunas, at age 79. He was buried in the Cathedral-Basilica of Kaunas following a funeral Mass there on June 1, 2000.
An article by KR Slade
Category : Lithuania today
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Wed, 23rd May, 2012 - (0) Comment
Gene Emmer
Last month, I wrote an OPEN LETTER to Mayor Zuokas pointing out the need for more playgrounds in the old town of Vilnius. In it, I recommended amongst other things, building new playgrounds in places such as the Rudininku Skveras and improving the playground located behind the post office on Vokieciu Gatve (behind the Post). To my delight and surprise, both have happened! Perhaps these were already planned before my letter, I have no idea. But nevertheless, I am very pleased that the city of Vilnius is making these improvements.
The new playground in Rudininku Skveras opened this week to a very appreciative audience of children and parents. So delighted were they, that the playground was absolutely packed with children. When we were there, about 30 youngsters were enjoying themselves, a very high number for such a small park.
On the Vokieciu playground, one can see some recent attempts at landscaping slowly appearing. Perhaps this is the beginning of much needed renovations.
We can only hope that the city continues to make such improvements. The fact that the few existing playgrounds are so busy only underscores the need for more opportunities for children of the old town to play and breath fresh air.
Gene Emmer,
Vilnius
Category : Lithuania today
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Wed, 9th May, 2012 - (6) Comment
Open letter to Mayor Zuokas from Gene Emmer:
We need playgrounds
in Vilnius Old Town!
Dear Mayor Zuokas,
I live in the Vilnius old town with my wife and young child. We have a small family business and are very happy here. Yet, one thing that concerns us very much is the lack of quality, safe play areas for young children in Vilnius old town. Within the old town there are basically three playgrounds:
Sereikiškės Park: There used to be two play areas. But one was in very bad condition and was removed. The play area which remains is currently the best in the area. But in nice weather it is generally completely full of children.
Vilniaus Gatve: Last year a small wooden park was built near the Šv. Kotrynos Church. It is very simple wooden play area and already needs repairs.
Vokieciu Gatve (behind the Post Office): This is a rundown, playground in very bad condition. It is a night time hangout for drunks and is always full of trash, broken bottles and animal droppings.
As you know, the children of the old town have very few options to walk to recreation, get exercise and breathe fresh air. I was excited to learn recently that you have decided to improve and build several new parks in Vilnius!
Vokieciu Gatve (behind the Post Office): This is a rundown, playground in very bad condition. It is a night time hangout for drunks and is always full of trash, broken bottles and animal droppings.
These waste containers are located just 50 meters from the playground at Vokieciu g.. They are a favorite haunt for the homeless and others in search of food residues.
Category : Lithuania today
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Sun, 6th May, 2012 - (3) Comment
Come celebrate with me
Mother’s Day in Lithuania
Impression from my today’s visit to the Jurbarkas Cemetery.
Text/photos: Aage Myhre
aage.myhre@Vilnews.com
I was up very early today, to drive the 200 kilometers (125 mi.) to Jurbarkas town, where mothers and grandmothers of my wife's family are buried.
A sunny day, a fantastic backdrop for the celebration and commemoration to the honour of these proud Lithuanian women.
You are cordially invited to join the tour and see the pictures I took in this incredibly beautiful cemetery ...
Category : Featured black / Lithuania today
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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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