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Lithuanian Parliament pass a resolution on the situation in Ukraine

April 24 Lithuanian Parliament has released a resolution, condemning any form of Russian aggression in Ukraine and stressing the importance of dialogue between the two parties. The resolution reads:

‘The Parliament <…>, following the internationally accepted law principles <…>, especially the principles of peaceful international conflict solutions, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, human rights and main principles of freedom, established in Charter of the United Nations <…> condemns any form of aggression, including armed invasion into the territory of another country, occupation and annexation of its territory, organization of armed gangs and the sending of them into the territory of another country, also the illegal granting of citizenship, creation of puppet organizations and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territory.’

‘<..> (The Parliament) recognizes the territorial integrity of Ukraine, part of which, with accordance to the Section 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine, is the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; states, that the Referendum, organized in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea goes against the Constitution of Ukraine and that its results are illegal and worthless; regards the ongoing presence of Russian armed forces and armed groups, controlled by them, as an occupation of parts of Ukraine, which is a rough violation of general imperative international norms of law; notes, that organizing, sending and supporting armed gangs , occupying state buildings within Ukrainian territory <…> is a rough violation of non-interference principles towards internal affairs of other countries, and the Russian Federation requirements to change the state and constitutional order, the defense of so called ‘Russian speakers’ is an illegal interference into Ukrainian internal affairs; states that following the international law in case of such rough violations, countries must cooperate so that these violations are stopped in a legal manner.’

‘Both countries are encouraged to create a dialogue and withstand actions such as promotion of separatism and blackmail in Energy Sector, which could complicate the search of an internationally lawful, peaceful and eligible solution’.

‘European Union is encouraged to treat energetic independence from Russian Federation as one of the main strategic tasks of EU energetic safety policy’.

Unofficial translation

April 23, 2014 Lithuanian media round-up

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė as well as the Presidents of other 8 EU and Eastern Partnership states will participate in the anniversary event  marking 5 years of Eastern Partnership on April 24 held in Prague. Sweden Deputy Prime Minister, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and European Commissioner Štefan Füle will also participate in the event. During this summit Leaders of EU and Eastern Partnership states are going to discuss how to ensure further Eastern Partnership Program continuity and efficiency considering newly emerging challenges for a region safety and stability. (Press Service of the President, unofficial translation)

On April 23 Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius  informed Lithuanian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee members about four-party negotiations between EU, USA, Ukraine and Russia held in Geneva. Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67078/lithuanias-formin-hard-to-talk-about-pursuance-of-geneva-agreements-201467078/.

After meeting with Ukrainian Minister of National Defence Colonel General Mikhail Koval Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas stated that ‘Ukraine supports joint military brigade with Lithuania and Poland’. During the interview with Lithuanian National Radio journalist Agnė Skamarakaitė he also said that ‘Lithuania is in close cooperation with Ukraine even without any resolutions’. (BNS, bernardinai.lt, Lithuanian National Radio, Lithuania Tribune). Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67051/olekas-ukraine-supports-joint-military-brigade-with-lithuania-poland-201467051/.

Today European Union opened its markets for Ukrainian commodities by applying one-side duty concessions. Reduced or completely eliminated Ukrainian commodities import to EU tariffs will be valid till this year November 1st or until the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine will be signed. (BNS, 15 min, delfi.lt, vz.lt)

On April 23 Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Ministry diplomats met with students from Lviv University in Vilnius. Diplomats presented the most important Eastern Partnership accents, Lithuania’s experience while integrating into European Union, experience in United Nations Security Council. Students and diplomats also discussed Lithuanian relations with her neighbors. Meeting initiator – nongovernmental organization ‘European Choice’. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs information, unofficial translation)

On April 29 the exhibition Frumušika Nova 2010 / 2014 dedicated to Ukrainian democracy support will be opened in Vilnius St. Johns street gallery. St. Johns street gallery brought together artists, who participated in plain-air Magnus Ducatus Artis – Frumušika Nova held in Ukraine in 2010. Staff of gallery encouraged artists to remember 2010 plein-air and ideas that were born during it. This exhibition is the first time the canvas by painters Linas Liandzbergis, Audrius Gražys and photos of photographers Arturas Valiauga, Vladas Braziūnas, Alis Balbierius created during the plain-air will be presented publicly. (BNS)

Ukrainian support concert ‘For Your’s and our voice’ video

On 7th of April, 2014, at 18:30 famous Lithuanian artists organized a concert ‘For Your’s and our voice’ in St. Catherine’s church in Vilnius. The goal of the concert was to raise funds for humanitarian aid to victims of the protests in Ukraine and Crimea, strenghten development of democratic society in Ukraine and cultural cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine.

The Concert opened and ended Vilnius Gediminas Technical University choir ‘Gabija’ performance. Traditional Tatars folk songs performed The Lithuanian Tatar children folk ensemble ‘Ilsu’. Saxophonist Petras Vyšniauskas, winner of the National Lithuanian Award, performed together with a singer from Ukraine Ulyana Horbachevska. Also in support concert ‘For Your’s and our voice’ appeared and such well-known Lithuanian singers as Arina, Aidas Giniotis, Algis Latėnas, Neda Malūnavičiūtė and Olegas Ditkovskis, Domantas Razauskas, Gediminas Storpirštis and Ainis Storpirštis. The Concert presented poet and translator, National Lithuanian Award winner Vladas Braziūnas.

Lithuanian National television broadcasted live this Concert.

April 22, 2014 Lithuanian media round-up

lietuva-ukraina-veliavelesDear ukraine.popo.lt readers,

We are glad to announce our new daily column – Lithuanian media round-up. There we will try to briefly summarize main Lithuanian events related with Ukraine crisis and covered by our press.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius on April 22 presented his Annual Report. PM mentioned Ukraine crisis in his Annual Report presenting speech at Lithuanian Parliament. He said: ‘This year (2013-ed.) end showed that Europe transited to a new space of international relations and security. Former President of Ukraine decision not to sign association agreement with European Union caused in Kiev mass society protests, blood spill and change of Government. Unfortunately with that could not reconcile her neighbor Russia, which started war actions against Ukraine – annexed Crimea and continues to threaten Ukraine‘s integrity. We are observing a revival of opposition between democratic West world and fast growing radicalism in Russia‘. (PM Press Office, unofficial translation)

Lithuanian Parliament on April 22 have had to consider a resolution project due support to Ukraine. Unfortunately Members of Labor Party suggested to cross out this plenary session agenda point and that after voting was accepted. As said Valentinas Bukauskas – member of Labor Party – ‘this resolution project after Geneva agreement is outdated and Parliament need to prepare a new one’. (BNS, delfi.lt)

Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas today in Kiev met with Ukrainian Minister of National Defence Colonel General Mikhail Koval. Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67031/lithuanian-defence-minister-to-pledge-support-in-kiev-201467031/.

Lithuanian ambassador-at-large Vaidotas Verba appointed to lead Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission group in Odessa. Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67036/lithuanian-diplomat-leading-osce-smm-group-in-odessa-2-201467036/.