CORPORATE
Russia ‘has never sought peace in the Middle East’ – analyst
Russia does not seek peace in the Middle East but has far bigger global strategic intentions, says Lithuanian political analyst Marius Laurinavičius. […]
Syria
Foreign affairs
What does Russian withdrawal from Syria mean for Baltics and Lithuania?
Russia’s decision to withdraw the majority of its forces from Syria, announced on Monday by Vladimir Putin, has analysts questioning what the rationale behind the move was. Was this practice for Putin before another attack in Ukraine or the Baltic states, or was it an even more crushing defeat than what the Soviet Union experienced in Afghanistan? […]
Uncategorized
Not clear Russia has achieved its primary goal in Syria, say intelligence experts
The primary goal of Russia’s military intervention in Syria was to link its actions in Syria to the conflict in Ukraine, disputes with the European Union and US sanctions on Russia and gain concessions but it is not clear it has achieved this, according to intelligence analysts Stratfor. […]
Foreign affairs
Society
Refugee support rally in Vilnius says racism fuels anti-migrant sentiment in Lithuania
A rally organized in Vilnius this Saturday called for solidarity with refugees from war-stricken zones in the Middle East, while a similarly-sized counter-rally voiced concerns about a “clash of cultures” and security. […]
CORPORATE
Foreign affairs
Refugees being used as a weapon of war by Russia, says Minister Linkevičius
Refugees are being cynically used as a leverage by Russia-backed Syrian regime in peace negotiations, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius. A terrorist attack in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday will only make the situation in the Middle East more tense, he added. […]
CORPORATE
‘We need to stand together as Lithuanians against Belarus nuclear plant’ – Landsbergis
The Restoration Parliament Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis has called on all Lithuanians to unite in opposing the Astravyets nuclear power plant being constructed in Belarus in his speech to mark February 16. […]
CORPORATE
Russia statements on cooperation, new Cold War a smokescreen, says Olekas
The Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s statements about a second Cold War and Moscow‘s talk of cooperation have to be seen as cover for its military actions in Syria and Ukraine, said Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas. […]
Foreign affairs
President Grybauskaitė: The new ‘Cold War’ is very hot
The world is not facing a new Cold War, it is getting “very hot”, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said at the Munich Security Forum on Saturday, responding to Russia‘s statements. […]
CORPORATE
Refugees yet to discover route into EU via Lithuania, says border guard service
Lithuanian border guards have already detained a range of illegal immigrants from Syria and Lebanon but the path into the EU through Lithuania is still relatively undiscovered according to Dainius Dautartas, a Major in the State Border Guard Service Major. […]
Defence
Lithuanian analysts unconvinced by BBC’s World War Three scenario
A recent programme aired by the BBC explores a hypothetical doomsday scenario of a nuclear stand-off between Russia and NATO over Latvia. Analysts in Lithuania say it presents too simplistic a take on geopolitical realities in Eastern Europe which, in itself, could erode confidence in NATO‘s collective defence commitments. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian president calls off trip to conference on Syria aid in London
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė cancelled a planned trip to London where she was to attend an international high-level conference on humanitarian aid to Syria. Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius will take part in the event instead. […]
CORPORATE
Trump, Clinton, Cruz, Sanders: Who would be the best US president for the Baltics?
As the presidential race in the United States picks up pace, political analyst Simonas Klimanskis looks at which of the front-runners for the Democratic and Republican parties’ nominations would pursue foreign policies that are in the best interests of the Baltic States and Eastern Europe. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuania allocates €20k to refugees in Turkey
Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday it had allocated EUR 20,000 in humanitarian aid to refugees in Turkey. […]
European Union
Lithuanian president on refugees: no documents, no asylum
The European Union must prioritize the security of European citizens over that of refugees, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė believes. If that requires reintroducing border controls, so be it, she said in an interview with LRT radio. […]
CORPORATE
Partnership with Poland should be Lithuania’s key foreign policy priority, says former ambassador to US
Many in Lithuania have been criticizing Poland‘s new government, but former Lithuanian ambassador to the US Žygimantas Pavilionis believes that the return of a strategic partnership between Poland and Lithuania should be our greatest foreign policy priority. According to Pavilionis, those now criticising the Polish government are the same people that accepted Barack Obama‘s attempts to reset the US relationship with Russia and improve the EU’s relationship with Russia. […]
Foreign affairs
British report linking Putin to poisoning of Litvinenko doesn’t surprise Grybauskaitė
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė is not surprised by the findings in the British High Court judge’s report concerning the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko and says that the document is further proof of how unpredictable Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, have become. […]
Foreign affairs
Concessions to aggressive Russian policies would be disastrous, says Ažubalis
Answering aggressive Russian policies with concessions would be disastrous for the whole of Europe and needed to met with a firm rebuff, was the consensus at the annual Snow Meeting according to shadow Foreign Affairs spokesman, Audronius Ažubalis of the conservative Homeland Union party. […]
Uncategorized
Future of Russia sanctions depends on Minsk agreements – Linkevičius
The future of international sanctions against Russia depends primarily on whether Moscow will implement the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the military conflict in Ukraine, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius on Tuesday at his annual press conference. […]