The e-Residency presentation at the Estonian Embassy in Vilnius  Photo Ludo Segers
Uncategorized

e-Residency, Estonia’s idea for a borderless world

On Wednesday afternoon, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania invited Ott Vatter of the Estonian e-Residency for their season’s opening event in the Estonian Embassy in Vilnius. […]

Žvėrynas Gymnasium  director Daiva Žiurienė.  Photo  Ludo Segers
Society

Back to school

Business has been advertising it for more than a month. Songs have been written about it. But yesterday, reality hit and it was back to school for all young people in Lithuania from primary schools to universities. […]

Chicago's 'Cloud', gathering place for annual Lithuanian National Anthem singing  Photo Ludo Segers
Global LT

Chicago’s Consulate General moving to new premises in Lithuanian diaspora capital

Sitting on the southern shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is an important transport, financial and cultural hub. It hosts world-class universities, world-class museums and a famous opera and music scene that make for a fascinating and vibrant place to live and work. The city had to reinvent itself several times, never more dramatically as after the great fire in 1871. Chicago is also known as the centre of the Lithuanian community in the United States. […]

President Obama defends nuclear deal with Iran  Photo Ludo Segers
Foreign affairs

President Obama challenges critics on historic nuclear deal with Iran

US President Barack Obama was fully on the offensive on Wednesday to let the world know that the deal with Iran was the best deal preventing that country from obtaining nuclear weapons. […]

Lithuanian Embassy (left ) and Cuban Mission in Washington   Photo Ludo Segers
Foreign affairs

Lithuania and Cuba soon to be diplomatic neighbours in Washington

Early Thursday morning several media teams set up in the neighbourhood of the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington DC. The Swiss Embassy, Cuban Special Interest Section is located next door to the Lithuanian Embassy on 16th Street. It houses the Cuban representation in the US Capital after the Americans severed diplomatic relations with the island nation 54 years ago at the height of the Cold War. The somewhat secretive mission got mainly attention in the past whenever demonstrators would gather to demand the release of Americans or dissidents held in Cuban prisons. All of that is about to end. […]

FLTR Ambassador Pavilionis, his wife Lina, Artūras Vazbys, Liana Vazbienė and Vida Vasiliauskaitė. Photo Ludo Segers
Foreign affairs

Long goodbye of Ambassador Pavilionis

This week marked the first step in the departure from the United States by the present Lithuanian ambassador to the USA, Žygimantas Pavilionis. After five years of serving his country in the USA there have been a number of farewell ceremonies for Ambassador Pavilionis over the last few weeks in the US capital. During a ceremony earlier this week, a large number of well-wishers, including several ambassadors came to bid the chief diplomat goodbye. Several members of Ambassador Pavilionis staff will also depart this summer for their home country and they too honoured for their time and role promoting and supporting Lithuania in the USA. […]

Sign of a changing America   Photo Ludo Segers
Opinion

A very good week for President Obama

On Friday morning whilst he was preparing the eulogy for the nine murdered black people in Charleston, South Carolina, United States President Barack Obama received the last piece of good news in a week that had plenty to celebrate for the White House administration. Shortly after the the Supreme Court announcing marriage equality, President Obama issued a statement. “It’s been a significant morning. It’s been a significant couple of days. And it’s certainly been a significant month.” […]

Lithuanian Ambassador Pavillionis Photo Ludo Segers
Foreign affairs

Ambassador Pavilionis’ plea for US energy support

Lithuanian Ambassador Žygimantas Pavilionis used a farewell speech at Energy Allies, one of the US energy associations, to review the long struggle of Lithuania to gain energy independence. The ambassador who is returning soon to Lithuania after five years of diplomatic service in Washington, DC, evaluated current energy policy trends and their impact on global politics in front of an audience of company representatives, energy lobbyists, diplomats, politicians and Congress cabinet staff. He urged for more US energy exports to re-balance the current geo-political situation. […]

A bit of Hollywood glamour with Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius and actress Ruta Lee
Foreign affairs

Lithuanian Consulate General feted in Ronald Reagan Library in California

The memory of former American President Ronald Reagan loomed large over the ceremony celebrating Lithuania’s opening of a Consulate General that was feted on Monday, 1 June 2015. Hosted by John Heubush, the director of the Ronald Reagan Library, the celebration took place in the presence of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevičius, and the Lithuanian Ambassador to the USA, Žygimantas Pavilionis, a large number of diplomatic representatives, dignitaries and friends of Lithuania, including the former movie star Ruta Lee and Albinas Markevicius. […]

EU VP for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip speaking in Washington, DC   Photo Ludo Segers
European Union

EU’s Ansip takes the Digital Single Market to Washington

The EU’s Vice President in charge of the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip presented on Thursday his proposals to Washington’s influential Brookings Institute. During a press conference on Friday the pragmatic Mr. Ansip provided some more insights as to how the EU and its 28 membership states faces the complexities of a fast changing internet and how they plan reducing existing regulations and harmonize the EU into one single, large economic block. […]

Los Angeles
Foreign affairs

Lithuanian General Consulate to open in Los Angeles

On 1 June, the Lithuanian Government is to open a Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA. During a ceremony that will take place in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevicius, will officially open the third Lithuanian Consulate General in the USA. […]