Section 3: LITHUANIA TODAY
THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Dangers from proposed Belarus and Russian nuclear power plants
Tue, 20th December, 2011 - (7) Comment
Kaliningrad and Belarus nuclear power plants. (NPP1 and 2)
on the border of Lithuania.
Prepared by:
Dr. Stan (Stasys) Backaitis, P.E., SAE Fellow1
Lithuanian American Council
One NPP containing two reactors, will be situated in Astravets, Belarus, approximately 20 km (12 miles) east of Lithuania and about 50 km (31 miles) from its capital city of Vilnius. The other set of two reactors will be constructed in the Kaliningrad enclave approximately 10 km (6 miles) south and west of Lithuania’s border. (The Kaliningrad enclave is a small patch of Russian-administered land wedged between the European Union nations of Poland and Lithuania.) In case of a nuclear disaster, the two NPPs pose a grave danger to Lithuania and other North-European countries.
Zones of nuclear endangerment by the Kaliningrad nuclear power plant.
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Mon, 12th December, 2011 - (1) Comment
A LETTER FROM MASHA KAMENETSKAYA, ONE OF MANY
PROTESTERS IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, LAST SATURDAY
When you feel that you have done the right thing in the right place
This is a letter from Masha Kamenetskaya, a young journalist and writer from St. Petersburg, Russia. She is describing her participation in the evening after the 10 December protest for fair elections in the city on the Neva.
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2011: Finally I am home -- after a good and such a... real day. Even a romantic one, in some sense, when you feel that you have done the right thing in the right place.
I spent the day with my friends and loved ones -- who would have thought that a meeting of protest can be such a great occasion to see friends and to catch up with them? And I spent the day with the people living in the same city as I do. The people who smiled and who cared.
The day started with snow (in which some people saw the symbolic connection with the symbolic “against the war” white ribbons and white flowers worn and carried by the meeting participants), continued with lunar eclipse (have you heard of it? it took place an hour before the meeting in question on Pionerskaya Square), reached its pinnacle in the square itself, and ended with me at the theatre.
You want to know about the meeting, of course. While we were walking there, I saw quite a few people, those who supported one of the peaceful ideas for the meeting and who carried white carnations; police women jumping out of their cars like snowflakes; old-aged people, accompanied by their grandchildren -- all headed there. And I saw hundreds and hundreds of others, too. .A helicopter was spinning above the Kazan cathedral. OMON [special security forces -- auth] trucks were "hidden" from view just around the corner. There were also internal-security military vehicles there, too, with, probably, lots of soldiers inside -- but over the course of the day, we never once saw any Army soldiers.
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Sat, 10th December, 2011 - (1) Comment
Worldwide revolts
against egocentric,
greedy leaders
- but not in Lithuania
2011 has been the year when people around the world began to speak up. Leaders in many countries, be it in politics, finance or other areas, have this year been forced to realize that it no longer is possible to deceive their citizens. In some countries the protests have evolved into revolts, often bloody, in which state leaders have been forced to abandon their posts.
But people in Lithuania have not reacted like that, despite the fact that the downturn and tightening measures they have been exposed to probably have been the worst and toughest in Europe.
Here in this country the elderly people sit in their small, dark apartments and suffer themselves quietly through catastrophic difficult time after their already minimal pensions were drastically cut, while prices for heating, electricity and food continue to rise.
Nor do the young take to the streets to protest against the injustice they are exposed to. Instead, they pack their suitcases and leave their home country. Many probably forever. 350 persons per day are now leaving, I have been told.
“Before they realized what is going on and who was robbing them, the Lithuanian people got clubbed by PM Kubilius’ ambitious austerity policy and the younger ones started emigrating in catastrophic numbers, seeing no future in the country whose GDP was reduced (from a low post-Soviet level) by some 20% by the combination of the old nomenklatura rent-seeking policies and the global Great Recession. Lithuania is hollowing out, unfortunately,” wrote Dr. Val Samonis in an article here in VilNews last April, concluding that “the Greeks won, the Lithuanians lost!”
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Sat, 10th December, 2011 - (1) Comment
Russia is seeing the largest show of public anger in the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union 20 years ago. The centrepiece is massive rallies in Moscow, with more than 30,000 people demonstrating. But protests take place in more than 70 other cities in the sprawling country.
Vladimir Putin,
the beginning of the end
Apart from silencing opponents and enriching personal friends, the one thing Vladimir Putin was really good at was fixing elections. In this, he had a perfect track record since March 2000—until last Sunday. The Russian parliamentary election on December 4th was neither free nor fair. Several opposition groups had been barred from the ballot; officials pressured voters to support the ruling party; the vote-count was marred by ballot-stuffing and the rigging of protocols. But even in these conditions—and even by the official figures—most Russians voted against Vladimir Putin. His party, United Russia, received 49.3 percent of the vote, losing its two-thirds supermajority in Parliament for the first time in eight years. Compared to the last poll in 2007, when it registered 64.3 percent, United Russia’s result represents a net loss of 13 million votes and 77 seats in the 450-seat Duma (down from 315 to 238).
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Lietuva fails miserably in human protections and human rights
Thu, 8th December, 2011 - (2) Comment
U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Dalia Grybauskaitė fronted the OSCE conference in Vilnius this week.
By Mark Kurosky
mark.kurosky@gmail.com
This week The Republic of Lietuva has demonstrated its prestige and accomplishment being a contemporary world player and a voice for democracy taking center stage hosting the OCSE Ministerial Conference and the ESCO "Making Women's Voices Heard" convocation. Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite, must be offered kudos for assuming a leadership helm in both of these world conferences. Witnessing President, Dalia Grybauskaite, partner with and stand side by side US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a woman undeniably known as the spouse of one of the most powerful men in the world in contemporary history, can only be a source of tremendous pride for Lithuanians worldwide.
During an address at the "Making Women's Voices Heard" event, and as quoted on the Lithuanian Presidential website, President Dalia Grybauskaite stated, "Any discrimination impairs the well-being of our societies. Gender gaps, glass ceilings and brick walls - an environment you navigate daily. Only through personal example and greater visibility we can attract everybody's attention to this problem and encourage combating it."
The Lithuanian President further "urged participants of the discussion to be good examples in the fight against gender inequality by assuming more responsibility in decision making, showing personal initiative, efforts, and persistence. She underlined that only public and vocal messages about gender equality issues could encourage women to be more determined in the struggle for their rights". The President praised Lithuania's efforts in the protection of women's rights and claimed Lithuania's example of such "good practice".
In stark contrast to the foregoing, and under the witness of the world's center stage spot light, one must then ask how President, Dalia Grybauskaite, the members of the Lietuva Seimas, and the contemporary, educated Lithuanian society at large, can not only tolerate, but actively promote openly stated discrimination toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered members of Lithuanian society.
Mark Kurosky
I am a 54 year old, gay male, a Lithuanian American, second generation born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1957, and I now reside in Prescott, Arizona. My grandparents immigrated from Lietuva in 1910, from Kacergine and from Miroslavas. I grew up immersed in Lithuanian culture, I am fluent in the language, have traveled Lietuva, and have family still within the country. My dream is to return to reside, work and thrive in Lietuva, however, for me most personally as a gay man, I feel that the atmosphere there would be unsafe, inhospitable, and uncomfortable. And I find this to be a shame as I would love nothing more than to go home to my beloved motherland.
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Thu, 8th December, 2011 - (0) Comment
Russian MFA defends Soviet annexation of the Baltic States
Lithuanian Foreign Ministry “regrets that some senior diplomats in Russia’s MFA continue to operate in last century’s spirit of falsification of history.”
Red Army tanks enter Riga in1940.
Photo: wikipedia.org
On December 1 and 2, respectively, Lithuania’s and Estonia’s ministries of foreign affairs (MFAs) refuted the Russian MFA’s latest claims that the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) had voluntarily joined the Soviet Union in 1940.
Moscow’s claims in this regard are hardly new; but are being resurrected in the context of Russian-fanned tensions with the US and NATO over European security, and are presented with some new twists to the old arguments. In a radical historical innovation, Russia’s MFA statement further claims that the present-day Republic of Moldova is a Russian land (see below).
Lithuania and Estonia chose to reply in a low key. Lithuania’s MFA handed over a note to the Russian embassy in Vilnius, expressing
Read more:
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=38747
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Tue, 6th December, 2011 - (1) Comment
Vilnius’ mayor cracks down on beggars and givers
Why are beggars despised?"A beggar, looked at realistically, is simply a businessman, getting his living" |
 George Orwell |
By George Orwell
It is worth saying something about the social position of beggars, for when one has consorted with them, and found that they are ordinary human beings, one cannot help being struck by the curious attitude that society takes towards them. People seem to feel that there is some essential difference between beggars and ordinary "working" men. They are a race apart--outcasts, like criminals and prostitutes. Working men "work," beggars do not "work"; they are parasites, worthless in their very nature. It is taken for granted that a beggar does not "earn" his living, as a bricklayer or a literary critic "earns" his. He is a mere social excrescence, tolerated because we live in a humane age, but essentially despicable.
Yet if one looks closely one sees that there is no essential difference between a beggar's livelihood and that of numberless respectable people. Beggars do not work, it is said; but, then, what is work? A navvy works by swinging a pick. An accountant works by adding up figures. A beggar works by standing out of doors in all weathers and getting varicose veins, chronic bronchitis, etc. It is a trade like any other; quite useless, of course--but, then, many reputable trades are quite useless. And as a social type a beggar compares well with scores of others. He is honest compared with the sellers of most patent medicines, high-minded compared with a Sunday newspaper proprietor, amiable compared with a hire-purchase tout--in short, a parasite, but a fairly harmless parasite. He seldom extracts more than a bare living from the community, and, what should justify him according to our ethical ideas, he pays for it over and over in suffering. I do not think there is anything about a beggar that sets him in a different class from other people, or gives most modern men the right to despise him.
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Sun, 4th December, 2011 - (0) Comment
A new Iron Wolf
howling over Vilnius
Vilnius’ new Iron Wolf, on top of a nicely renovated building within the Vilnius Railway Station area.
K.Slade/A.Myhre.
There is a legend that surrounds the founding of Vilnius in 1323. The legend has it that Grand Duke Gediminas went on a hunting trip in the holy woods of the Valley of Sventaragis. Tired after a successful day of hunting, the Grand Duke settled for the night near a hill at the convergence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers. He fell asleep soundly and had a dream. A huge iron wolf was standing on top of the hill and the sound of hundreds of other wolves inside it filled all the surrounding fields and woods. After the hunting trip, Gediminas went back to Trakai (the capital of Lithuania at that time) and consulted the pagan priest (oracle), Lizdeika, to reveal the secrets behind the dream. And the priest told him: “What is destined for the ruler and the state of Lithuania, let it be: The iron wolf means a formidable castle and town which will be established by the ruler on this site. The city will stand as strong as iron and its walls will protect the land from its enemies. The massive sound dwelled inside the wolf, symbolized the fame of the city shall echo beyond their borders and proclaim throughout the centuries the glory of Lithuania.” Gediminas heeded and pleased with the priest’s reveal of his dream. He begin to summon artisans and craftsmen around the country and Europe to design and construct his new strong and beautiful kingdom, which would surround this hill where he had the dream of the iron wolf. Upon the completion Gediminas moved his home, signaling the establishment of a new capital for his country: Vilnius.
Category : Lithuania today / Front page
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Mon, 28th November, 2011 - (1) Comment
A future of green life and energy for Lithuania?
In the German city of Freiburg environment and economy are not antagonists. On the contrary, the environmental economy is the leading business sector in both town and region.
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The land of smiles
Thu, 24th November, 2011 - (2) Comment
My youngest daughter, then three-year-old Cornelia, with granddad Bruno.
I think people on mother Earth has bright times to look forward to;
times when the world will be managed and developed by the
new type of people, those who are now growing up.
Photo: Aage Myhre.
By Aage Myhre
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
The economic downturn has made more and more ‘experts’ come forward with gloomy predictions for the world's future.
I do not share this pessimistic attitude. I think the crisis is part of a necessary cleansing process. In this way, we live in a very exciting time. The very ‘transition time’.
I think the world’s money power and capitalism as it has been exercised is bad and unfair in many ways. I am skeptical also about many of the other 'isms'. In my opinion, greed and desire for power have defined the various 'isms' and the world for far too long.
Many of the problems they have created have been nurtured by unhealthy egoism. Money has become our god, a deceitful god. Therefore, many countries are struggling today. Many innocent people suffer as a result thereof.
Yet I am optimistic. For I see that a whole new type of people is coming. New leaders. Many of today's children and young people. What I see is forward-looking youngsters with good balance within themselves and their 'other dimension'; their divine origin.
‘The land of smiles’ is under development. The new kids, the new human type, seem to have come to Earth with a special mission: to assist the Earth and its inhabitants in the transition and the 'rebirth' as a planet with higher awareness and better interpersonal understanding.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
- Arthur Schopenhauer, Germantown philosopher (1788 - 1860).
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Sun, 20th November, 2011 - (0) Comment
NEW YORK TIMES:
Vilnius among the 10
hippest world cities!
Vilnius early this morning, Sunday 20 November 2011.
Youngsters lighting candles at the Cathedral
to mourn people killed in traffic accidences.
Photo: Aage Myhre
“Hip cities that think about how they work. The story of young people, full of ambition, energy, skill and talent, moving to enticing cities that call to them like a siren’s song is as old as modern civilization. And in a world where national borders are easier to traverse, where more countries are joining the prosperous global middle class and where the cost of a one-way plane ticket is more affordable, young professionals probably have more cities to choose from than ever before.”
This is how New York Times this week introduces its article about what they consider the 10 hippest cities in the world. Vilnius being one of them.
Click here to read the New York Times article
“The corrupt neoliberal mayor of Vilnius managed to brainwash even New York Times”
Vilnius Mayor, Arturas Zuokas crushing
an illegally parked car with an armed
vehicle from the Lithuanian army.
Not everyone is impressed by the New York Times’ selection of Vilnius among the top ten hip cities in the world. Here are two comments from Facebook this morning:
1) “My dislike for Vilnius aside, this kind of publicity is very important and would be valuable, if only different aspects were stressed and many of the statements weren't propaganda”
2) “Oh come on, this Zuokas' neoliberalism is way overrated while his public relations drive is closer to idiocy than propaganda. I happened to get in touch with some of his apparatchiks with the city hall's PR and press offices; I'm telling you, they could barely qualify to work for a kolkhoz. The dude is very funny for an ex-convict though, a good journalistic back scratch.”
Here is MY Vilnius – of today:
Aage Myhre,
Editor-in-Chief.
I took to the streets of Vilnius early today morning, Sunday 20 November.
It was a mysterious, misty morning, excellent for photographing. If you want to see a slide show of my early morning impressions, simply click on one of the below images:
Click here to see my misty early Sunday morning slide show.…
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Thu, 27th October, 2011 - (1) Comment
1st of November is
All Saints’ Day
November 1st, people of the Christian Faith all over the world celebrate All Saints’ Day. In Lithuania it is one of the most solemn of holidays. This day is set aside as a day to honor the souls of family members that have passed away as well as remembering the Saints of the Catholic Church.
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Tue, 18th October, 2011 - (2) Comment
OIL, GAS AND NOW POTENTIALLY 3 NEW
NUCLEAR PLANTS IN THE BALTIC AREA:
Ticking time bombs?
Text: Aage Myhre, Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
It surprises me that the warning bells are not ringing much louder in Scandinavia and the rest of northern Europe, as I presume it now must be well known what is going on here in the Baltic region with regards to old as well as new energy installations, and potential disasters connected to them.
Oil, gas and polluting elements from World War II and later have long been known concern factors. Now the situation has become further worrying by the fact that Russia has built an underwater gas pipeline from St. Petersburg to Germany, and not least that it is planned no less than three (!) new nuclear power stations very close to the Baltic Sea's southern shore.
We all remember Chernobyl 25 years ago. We all remember the terrible disasters in Japan earlier this year, in a nation that claimed to have the world’s safest nuclear installations – a claim that showed yet again that nuclear plants will never be safe enough. They are always ticking time bombs.
For the whole time nuclear plants operate they emit radiation to their surroundings, often causing illness and genetic damage to humans, animals and nature. No nuclear installation, wherever it was, has ever been really safe.
I can hardly imagine living in Vilnius any more if that means I will have to live surrounded by three nuclear plants, just kilometres away. In particular, I would be extremely worried about my children and their descendants. Living in a neighbourhood of nuclear reactors is simply not a chance I can take.
Can Europe accept that three nuclear power stations are built right here, at its very ‘epicentre’?
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Thu, 13th October, 2011 - (1) Comment
Russia has ambitions
few in the west
are aware of
Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schröder.
Photo: Wikipedia.org.
Text: Aage Myhre
Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@vilnews.com
Professor Vytautas Landsbergis continuously warns his country and the world about the Russian threat. I think these warnings sometimes are a bit excessive, but I’m also afraid that Western Europe will continue acting and thinking with their blinders and ear flaps on. Yeltsin's Russia was perhaps more or less loose tooth, but Putin's Russia is definitely not! And Putin has ambitions. Big ambitions. I have learned this over my years in his front yard. It surprises me constantly to see how little Western leaders worry.
Putin has publicly stated that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the most tragic has happened in Russia's history. It is an attitude not only Eastern Europe should be scared of. Western Europe and the rest of the world will also be greatly influenced if Putin gets what he wants.
Energy is the weapon. This applies not least to gas, which the rest of Europe is highly dependent on. The state-owned Russian gas company Gazprom is Putin's main tool in the efforts to achieve more and more control in Europe. It is often through this company that many spies and agents are paid.
Baltic states are particularly vulnerable. These relatively poor countries are already paying 50% more for gas received from Russia than Germany does. And every time they do something to achieve independence from Russian supplies of gas, oil or electricity, Putin is ready with the finger on the switch. Ready to turn off the power, once again to make a blow to the Baltic States. Unfortunately, he has more than enough power to threaten and trump through most of the restrictions.
I put big question marks at Germany's former chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, for his roles in his native country and for Europe. Schröder cultivated very close ties to Putin, even as Chancellor, ostensibly to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow.
Together they planned the now realized gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, exclusively between Russia and Germany. Only a few days before he resigned as Chancellor Schröder signed the agreement without consulting with his EU counterparts, and immediately after his retirement he joined the board of the German-Russian joint venture.
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Mon, 3rd October, 2011 - (2) Comment
Lithuania’s friends
and brothers
Soviet propaganda poster during the winter
war with Finland, 1939-1940.
From Wikipedia.org.
“Do you know how we Fins look upon the Russians as brothers or friends?” A Finnish friend of mine asked and soon he revealed the answer: “We consider them our brothers, of course, because friends you can choose yourself.”
Lithuania of today is facing the problem Finland has had to deal with for many decades, and is now learning the art of keeping close ties to the West without irritating Russia too much. But Lithuania has got many more “friendship dimensions” to tackle; to keep up the mood towards the EU and to balance its relations between America and Western Europe.
Many would even say that it is questionable who are the real friends of Lithuania within Lithuania itself, or as a columnist recently wrote on this issue: “All these scandals and infights among politicians are no more than battles of personal interests which have very little if anything to do with interests of the nation.”
But first back to Russia, where a recent poll gives quite interesting information on how ordinary Russians view the relations with other countries. According to the poll, Russia's best friends are Belarus (47 percent), Kazakhstan (33 percent), China (24 percent), Germany (22 percent) and India (15 percent).
Russia's main foes are Latvia (46 percent), Georgia (44 percent), Lithuania (42 percent), the United States (37 percent), Estonia (28 per cent) and Ukraine (27 percent).
Lithuania is, in other words, considered one of Russia‘s top foes.
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How many crosses on ‘Hill of Three Crosses’?
Tue, 27th September, 2011 - (2) Comment
Photo: Wikipedia.org.
By KR Slade
The hill behind the castle tower in the Old Town of the city of Vilnius--the capital of Lithuania, is called ‘The Hill of Three Crosses’. So, how many crosses are on the Hill of Three Crosses ? Six ! Or nine, if you count shadows . . .
In the 14th century, according to legend, pagans killed seven Franciscan monks on this hill. Three monks were hung on the hill, and four were thrown in the river. Three wooden crosses were erected on this hilltop in the 17th century. Thus, the hill got its name.
In 1916, before the first Republic of Lithuania (1918-1939), the wooden crosses were replaced with an ensemble of three, more monumental, reinforced-concrete crosses. They were hollow, about two feet square and about three inches thick. The cross-arms span about eight feet; the height is about eighteen feet. The three-dimensional relief faces reflect light and shadow.
In 1950, the Soviets blew-up and buried the three concrete crosses, which are now placed on the ground just below the final summit climb of the hill. The old, raw concrete crosses are in-tact, but broken at their bases that expose their steel reinforcement rods . The twisted steel rods evidence an amount of force used in their attempted ruin. Amazingly, they were not completely destroyed. They remain now triumphant, on the ground, the paint long-since worn away by weather, neatly displayed on a grassy presentation, about fifty feet from the summit. The three recumbent crosses, still working in their retirement, make a resurrected statement of faith.
The newer three crosses, which since 1989 crown the hilltop vista, were constructed according to the previous general plans. But, there are visible differences in the frontal surfaces of the older and newer structures. In 1991, Soviets here became extinct.
I had mentioned to a local friend that I wanted to go to the Hill of the Three Crosses. He replied, “Why? It’s a hill. With three crosses. You can see the crosses from everywhere in the city.”
No. The Hill of Three Crosses has six crosses. Yes, you can see the three crosses from everywhere in the Old Town. But it’s the other three crosses--the one’s resting on the ground--the old retired ones, which vividly tell the whole story.
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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.
Code of Ethics: See Section 2 – about VilNews. VilNews is not responsible for content on external links/web pages.
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