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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

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. […]

Dalia Grybauskaitė
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. […]

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. […]

Dalia Grybauskaitė, Mahmoud Abbas
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. […]

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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. […]

President Grybauskaitė meets with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin
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. […]