Tag: Štefan Füle

April 29, 2014 Lithuanian media round-up

On April 29 European Commission adopted a special support package for Ukraine worth 365 million euros. This package will help country’s transition and boost the role of civil society, promoting and monitoring democratic reforms and inclusive socio-economic development in Ukraine. Štefan Füle, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, stated: ‘The EU is not only closely watching events in Ukraine and expressing its readiness to support it, but is also delivering in deeds. With today’s assistance package we are encouraging and supporting the Ukrainian authorities to continue with reforms and in the process of inclusive national development. This package will also support the European Agenda for Reform, recently discussed with the Ukrainian authorities.‘ (EU Press Release, vz.lt). Read more here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-501_en.htm.

Lithuanian Military Intelligence on April 29 published her Annual Performance Report. In the Report is said that ‘conventional warfare probability in the Baltic Sea region is still fairly low’ (BNS, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt). Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67420/risk-of-war-in-baltic-sea-region-fairly-low-lithuanian-military-intelligence-201467420/.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius on April 29 met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss issues related with better coordination of sanctions and other pressure instruments achieving the de-escalation of Ukrainian crisis. (delfi.lt)

The delegation of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry led by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrius Krivas and representatives of Estonian and Latvian Foreign Ministries discussed the security situation in the region and relations with Ukraine and Russia on April 28 in Tallinn. The officials agreed to continue maintaining a strong position on non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea and seeking to reduce tensions in eastern Ukraine. Read more in Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: http://urm.lt/default/en/news/trilateral-political-consultations-with-estonia-and-latvia-discuss-support-for-ukraine-and-collective-security-issues.

The group of sports enthusiasts from Lithuania participated in international Kiev marathon on April 27. They ran various length distances thus expressing their support for united Ukraine. (Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Kiev information)

April 24, 2014 Lithuanian media round-up

Today Lithuanian Parliament accepted the resolution on the situation in Ukraine, condemning any form of Russian aggression in Ukraine and stressing the importance of dialogue between the two parties. Both countries (Russia and Ukraine – ed.) were 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. Resolution was supported by 49 members of parliament, 1 against and 8 abstained. Read more in Lithuania Tribune: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/67139/seimas-resolution-demands-withdrawal-of-russian-troops-from-ukraine-201467139/.

Today Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė together with 8 other EU Presidents and Eastern Partnership states are participating in the anniversary event marking 5 years of Eastern Partnership in Prague. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and European Commissioner Štefan Füle is also participating in the event. During this Summit the situation in Ukraine was discussed and it was decided to give 11 billion euros in support of implementation of important reforms in Ukraine over the next few years. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Deshchytsia has also discussed questions regarding Ukrainian security and economic situation and stated: ‘The stronger the democracy in our East neighborhood the more secure we will become’. (Press Service of the President, unofficial translation)

Today Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Neris Germanas has met with with Alois Karl, the new Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the Baltic States. They discussed situation in Ukraine, EU reaction to Russian actions and energy and security issues in the region. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs information, unofficial translation)

‘Vkontakte’ founder Pavel Durov is invited to come and stay in Lithuania with his team by Lithuanian startup community. Pavel refused to cooperate with Russian Government and disclose Russian opposition and Maidan activists data so he was forced to leave Russia. (ekonomika.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt)

The invitation you can read here: http://www.eddy.lt/2014/04/pavel-come-to-lithuania.html.