Society
Articles by Lithuania Tribune
Politics
Social Democrats suggest abolishing single-seat electoral constituencies
The Social Democrats have proposed to completely transform the current election system in Lithuania. Their proposal includes abolishing single-seat constituencies, dividing Lithuania into 10 voting districts. […]
European Union
Lithuanian PM says we can’t ignore climate change
Lithuanian PM Algirdas Butkevičius has said everyone should care about the challenges of climate change. The prime minister signed a declaration on climate change together with other state leaders and members of the Party of European Socialists on Wednesday in Paris. […]
Defence
Defence ministers of Belgium and Luxembourg to observe exercise in Lithuania
Defence ministers and army commanders of Belgium and Luxembourg are coming to Lithuania on Thursday to observe the international military exercise Baltic Piranha. […]
Defence
Influential US think tank looks into ways of improving security measures in Baltics
On 20 October in Vilnius, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Andrius Krivas, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence met with a group of experts from the Influential US think tank Atlantic Council, led by Magnus Nordenman, to discuss current challenges to Lithuania’s security, measures to ensure security and potential support from allies in this field. […]
Society
Vilnius University in top 20 of regional QS World University Ranking
QS World University Rankings has published a list of the best universities in the region of Emerging Europe and Central Asia. Vilnius University (VU) jumped up by 13 ranking positions and made it to the top 20, ranking in the 19th place, the university reports. […]
Global LT
Litvaks’ public diplomacy is important to Lithuania, President Grybauskaitė says
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė opened the first ever Israeli Litvak Forum in Tel Aviv. In her address to Jews with roots in Lithuania and their descendants, the president emphasized their special contribution to establishing Lithuania’s ties with the world and invited them to foster what connects Lithuanian and Jewish nations, the press service of the president said. […]
Society
Lithuanian LGBT community secures permit for pride march in Vilnius
The Lithuanian Gay League (LGL), an LGBT rights organization, has announced that Baltic Pride 2016 will take place in Vilnius in June, with the main events – the pride march followed by a concert – planned in central locations of the Lithuanian capital. […]
Global LT
Defence
Society
Soviet killings of Lithuanian partisans not a genocide, ECHR rules
There is no basis for equating post-war Soviet persecution of partisans in Lithuania with genocide, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. […]
Energy
Politics
Lithuanian government under pressure to redraw constituencies before next elections
Lithuania’s Constitutional Court issued a ruling on Tuesday, saying that disparities in voter numbers in each of Lithuania’s 71 constituencies were unconstitutional. This puts pressure on Lithuanian lawmakers to make necessary adjustments before the next general elections next year. […]
Foreign affairs
Could Lithuania mediate in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks?
During a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė stressed the need for Israelis and Palestinians to go back to peace talks. She also hinted that Lithuania could serve as a broker in the negotiations. However, with Lithuania’s record of supporting Israel and opposing any Palestinian moves to establish themselves in the international community, Vilnius would not be a likely choice for a mediator, a political scientist says. […]
Defence
Lithuania’s defence budget 2016-2018 focuses on developing priority capabilities and combat training
Draft National Defence System Budget 2016-2018 has been submitted for consideration by the Lithuanian Parliament. With an aim to implement the strategic priorities of the activities of the National Defence System for the nearest future, the demand for defence appropriations for 2016 is EUR 574.0 million, or 1.48 percent of GDP. The sum exceeds the adopted Defence Budget 2016 by EUR 149 million, the Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Politics
Variation in constituency sizes is unconstitutional, Lithuania’s top court rules
Lithuania’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that current regulations concerning the size of electoral constituencies is unconstitutional. […]
Defence
Logistics specialists to support Lithuanian troops in Exercise Trident Juncture 2015
Logistics and movement control specialists of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Mobile Refuelling Unit will provide logistical support to Lithuanian and allied troops taking part in NATO‘s Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 in Spain until 6 November, the Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Foreign affairs
President Grybauskaitė: Difficult challenges for Lithuania and Israel
President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is in Israel on an official visit, met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The meeting – the first between the Lithuanian president and the president of Israel, who was elected last year – focused on the most relevant issues relating to regional security and bilateral cooperation. The Israeli president, who emphasizes his Litvak roots, and Dalia Grybauskaitė also discussed measures to strengthen Israel’s ties with Lithuania, the presidential press service said. […]
Defence
Lithuanian land force personnel train in multinational exercise across Europe
Lithuanian soldiers assigned to various units of the Lithuanian Land Force take part in a spectrum of multinational training events and military competitions in Germany, Latvia, Spain and the United Kingdom, the Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Foreign affairs
President Grybauskaitė says her visit to Israel to give new momentum to relations
President Dalia Grybauskaitė is making an official visit to Israel on 19-21 October. She will be accompanied by the ministers of foreign affairs and economy as well as by Chair of the Jewish Community of Lithuania, Faina Kukliansky, the presidential press service said. […]