Nadiya Savchenko
Foreign affairs

Lithuanian protests and calls for sanctions after Russia imprisons Ukrainian pilot

About 50 people gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Vilnius at noon on Wednesday, calling for the release of Ukrainian military pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who is continuing her hunger strike in protest of the court’s proceedings. […]

Žygimantas Pavilionis
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. […]

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. […]

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. […]

Opinion

Opinion: Lithuania does not invest into its most important ally

A visit several weeks ago by Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to NATO and currently the head of the McCain Institute, would have gone unnoticed by the Lithuanian public, if it weren’t for a few media interviews. And even if it was noticed, many must have thought it of little consequence. […]

Artūras Skučas. Photo Ludo Segers
Global LT

Artūras Skučas’ art and poetry presented in Washington

Artūras Skučas is a man with many talents. His photographic art and poetry brought him to Washington, DC, on a summery evening. He probably remains best known for his role in the Sąjūdis movement, set up to liberate Lithuania from the Soviet oppression. He also organized the Savanoriai (a militia made up of volunteers). That militia was set, in 1990, to protect the Seimas (parliament) and its leader, Professor Vytautas Landsbergis. […]

Enthusiastic APPLE educators  Photo Ludo Segers
Global LT

APPLE’s contribution to Lithuania’s education system feted in Washington

On Friday, the Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, Žygimantas Pavilionis, hosted a large group of teachers who played an important role in education during the last 25 years that followed Lithuania regaining independence. Aimed to contribute to a then fledging Lithuanian educational system, APPLE was set up as an organisation in 1990 by American teachers, many with strong ties to Lithuania. Many of the teachers attending the 25th anniversary travelled from distant parts of the USA and even Canada to celebrate the success of this unique venture. […]

Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Bassin with the Washington Monument   Photo Ludo Segers
Global LT

Cherry Blossom Princesses visit Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, DC

It is a rare event to have 50 princesses visit the Lithuanian Embassy all at once, but the annual Cherry Blossom is a magical event in Washington DC. Although Japan is the natural home for the annual cherry blossom festivals, Washington, DC with thousands of trees, mostly donated by Japan, comes a close second. Every year, since 1948 there is also a State Society organised Cherry Blossom Princess contest. The princesses are the highlight of the Cherry Blossom Festival, this weekend, in the capital’s centre and a major event in the US Capitol building. […]