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Energy

Lithuanian government struggles to prevent LNG terminal from inflating heating bills

Under the new scheme, proposed by the Lithuanian government to finance the maintenance of the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, heating prices might inch up a little in several municipalities, but would drop in most others, the parliament was told on Tuesday. […]

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. […]

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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. […]

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. […]

Prosecutor General Office
Politics

Lithuanian parliament wants to take away president’s right to appoint prosecutor general

Members of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) have suggested to change the procedure of appointing prosecutor general. Under current regulation, the prosecutor general is appointed by the president, with parliament’s approval; a new bill suggests letting the government pick the candidate. […]

Jerusalem
Foreign affairs

Lithuanian president says her Israeli visit will have ‘international significance’

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is planning a visit to Israel this week, says that the Lithuanian-Israeli relations have never been as good as they are now. She adds that the four-day visit might have international significance due to current tensions in Israeli-Palestinian relations. […]