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Case Number: 2011-1038-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the Clinton Presidential
Library Staff.
Folder Title:
Lithuania [1]
Staff Office-Individual:
European Affairs-Norland, Richard
Original OA/ID Number:
2630
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
Stack:
33
5
10
1
V
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. email
White House Situation Room to Antony Blinken et al. re: Continuity in
09/28/2000
P1/b(1) KBH 11/20/2023
Lithuanian Foreign Policy (6 pages)
002. memo
re: Lithuania (2 pages)
09/06/2000
P1/b(1)
Partial release - KBH 11/20/2023
003 report
re: Lithuania: Centrist Coalition (1 page)
10/11/2000
P1/b(1) KBH 11/20/2023
004. fax
FBIS Facsimile [partial] (2 pages)
09/21/2000
P3/b(3), P6/b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
European Affairs (Richard Norland)
OA/Box Number: 2630
FOLDER TITLE:
Lithuania [1]
2011-1038-F
kh1044
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Friday, November 17, 2000 2:55 AM
To:
Binnendijk, Johannes A. (Hans) (DEFENSE); Blinken, Antony J. (EUR); Bolan, Christopher J.
(VP); Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Greenwood, Thomas C. (SEE); Miller, Laurel E. (SEE);
Norland, Richard B. (EUR); Yee, Hoyt B. (EUR)
Subject:
LITHUANIAN DIPLOMAT TO SPEARHEAD NATO ENTRY BID
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution:
SIT: BINNENDIJK BLINKEN BOLAN DAVIDSON GREENWOOD MILLER NORLAND YEE
Identifier:
R14eed20
Originator:
Reuters
Precedence:
RUSH
TimeOfReceipt:
11/17/2000 03:54:27 ET
a0422
^BC-LITHUANIA-NATO
^Lithuanian diplomat to spearhead NATO entry bid
VILNIUS, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Lithuanian Presdient Valdas Adamkus
on Friday appointed diplomat Giedrius Cekuolis, 41, to coordinate the
Baltic state's efforts to secure membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Alliance (NATO). Lithuania hopes to secure an invitation to join the
defence alliance -- one of its key foreign policy goals -- at the next
NATO summit due in 2002.
"The president believes this appointment will consolidate
Lithuania's diplomatic efforts in securing NATO memebership," Adamkus's
spokeswoman Violeta Gaizauskaite told Reuters.
Lithuania, together with neighbouring Baltic states Latvia
and Estonia, were deeply disappointed by a NATO decision to exclude
them from its expansion last year when former Warsaw Pact members Poland,
the Czech Republic and Hungary joined.
The three view NATO membership, vehemently opposed by Russia,
as the best way of guaranteeing the independence they won from Moscow
in 1991 after 50 years of Soviet occupation.
RB-- 11/17/00 03:39:46
1
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.11.09 Time: 21:19:04
Page 1 of 1
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
VAŠINGTONAS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
News Release
Contact: Rolandas Kacinskas
November 9, 2000
Phone: (202) 234-5860 X 21
The new Lithuanian government takes office
Vilnius - On November 9, following last month's parliamentary
elections. and President's decree on the formation of the new
government, Lithuanian Parliament gave a supportive vote for
the program of the new coalition government, a move required
to authorize the executive body to take office. The coalition
government has been formed by center-right Liberal Union and
center-left New Union (Social Liberals), led by Prime
Minister Rolandas Paksas, Head of the Liberal Union.
Parliament voted 72-48 with 16 abstaining in favor of the new
government program, allowing Lithuania's cabinet to take
power. The cabinet was sworn in following the vote.
The pursuit of Lithuania's bid to finish European Union
accession talks in 2002 and win an invitation to join NATO at
the Alliance's next summit, along with the continuation of
economic reforms and privatization, are top goals of the new
government. The Lithuanian government aims to improve the
country's investment climate by abolishing the corporate
profit tax and replacing it with a tax on dividends. The
government promised to cut the personal income tax rate to 24
percent from the present level of 34 percent. The new
government pledged to maintain its strict fiscal policy and
to keep the currency board to protect the Lithuanian national
currency Litas, which has been pegged to the U.S. dollar
since 1993.
Lithuania received a positive assessment on November 8 in the
European Commission's latest progress report on EU
enlargement. The report recognized Lithuania as "a
functioning market economy".
2622 16TH STREET, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009 - PHONE 202/ 234-5860 FAX 202/ 328-0466
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Friday, November 03, 2000 11:20 AM
To:
Babbitt, James F. (VP); Banbury, Anthony "Tony" N. (MULTI); Bolan, Christopher J. (VP);
Bruns, Judson L. (Jay) (INTECON); Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Duncan, John D. (INTECON);
Mclean, Matthew K. (MULTI); Naplan, Steven J. (MULTI); Norland, Richard B. (EUR);
Patten, Wendy L. (MULTI); Samans, Richard (INTECON); Schwartz, Eric P. (MULTI); Shea,
Dorothy C. (MULTILAT); Smith, Peter D. R. (MULTI); Wilcox, Richard M. (MULTI); Yee, Hoyt
B. (EUR)
Subject:
NEW LITHUANIA PM PROMISES TO CHOP DOWN "TAX JUNGLE"
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution:
SIT: BABBITT BANBURY BOLAN BRUNS DAVIDSON DUNCAN MCLEAN NAPLAN
NORLAND
PATTEN SAMANS SCHWARTZ SHEA SMITHP WILCOX YEE
Identifier:
R02f3250
Originator:
Reuters
Precedence:
RUSH
TimeOfReceipt:
11/03/2000 12:19:08 ET
a2619
^BC-LITHUANIA-GOVERNMENT (REFILE)
^New Lithuania PM promises to chop down "tax jungle"
By Andrius Vilkancas
VILNIUS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Lithuania's incoming Prime Minister
Rolandas Paksas set out his government's programme on Friday, pledging
to cut taxes that businesses say are choking investment and economic
growth.
"The never-ending changes to our tax system have led us
to such a tax jungle where only the law of the jungle is valid," Paksas
told parliament.
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus formally approved Paksas's
cabinet on Monday after his Liberal Union party took second place in
an October 8 general election and formed a minority coalition with the
centre-left New Union.
He must win parliament's approval for his programme of liberalisati
on and modernisation in the former Soviet country before taking office.
A vote is expected next Thursday.
Paksas will have to spur an economy which, he says, is overburdened
with taxes. "When if not now must private initiative, suppressed for
so many years, recover its strength and self-confidence," he said.
Paksas plans to cut income tax gradually to 24 percent from
29 percent, eliminate a 24 percent corporate tax in favour of a tax
on dividends and scrap capital gains tax.
He said he would simplify the tax system and stop officials
from constantly tinkering with tax legislation -- a key wish of investors.
PAKSAS ALSO TARGETS ``INFORMATION SOCIETY"
Paksas also promised to pull Lithuania into the digital age
and continue reforms such as privatisation, which the European Union
is expected to mention as a key area where work is needed in its annual
progress report next week.
"The government programme is based on three priorities -
- education and the development of an information society, systematic
structural, economic and social reforms, and seeking international integration
Paksas told parliament.
He said Lithuania must create a workforce able to compete
in the world economy. For this he said he would invest 1.5 percent of
gross domestic product in education and extra funds into creating an
``information society."
"Our country has no natural resources. Our resources are
1
intellectual, industrious people," he told lawmakers.
However, 44-year-old Paksas, prime minister for five months
in 1999 before stepping down over a controversial privatisation, will
be in for a rough ride.
With only 67 of parliament's 141 seats, he will be under
pressure to raise spending for swing groups whose votes he needs --
which could threaten plans to reduce the budget deficit.
He has already promised higher agricultural spending, a nod
to the Farmers Union faction whose support is seen as crucial in next
week's vote on his programme.
He has promised a comprehensive reform of Lithuania's inefficient
agricultural sector, but further concessions could undermine his credibility,
opposition parties say.
A major task for this government will be to prove that
it is a pro-reform government," said outgoing Prime Minister Andrius
Kubilius.
RB-- 11/03/00 12:17:25
2
FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER
(THU) 11. 2'00 15:27/ST. 15:26/NO. 3700000920 P 1
Washfax Receipt
STATE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
8
4
7000 NOV
-Z P 3:25
00.AON
15:24 00. AON
030795
UNCLASSIFIED
Classification:
No. Pages:
2
Message No.:
From: Robert O. Blake
S/S
202-647-5302
7224
(Officer Name)
(Office Symbol)
(Extension)
(Room number)
Message Description: Cable to
VILNIUS: PRESIDENTIAL CONGRATULATION
TO PM PAKSAS
To:
Deliver To:
Extension
Room No.
(Agency):
Robert A. Bradtke
NSCS
Executive Secretariat
456-9461
WHSITRM
BLINKEN
NORLAND
MUST GO
NON-MUST GO
Remarks: Please Clear by: COB November 3.
NSC POC:
S/S Officer:
Bercosen
Robert O. Blake
CROSSHATCH
FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER
(THU) 11. 2'00 15:27/ST. 15:26/NO. 3700000920 P 2
ORIGINAL
APPR: DSH
DH
DRAFT: ALS
.AS
CLR 1: DEG
DG
CLR 2: KTo
KT
CLR 3: LLT
LT
CLR 4: BDH
BH
BON
CLR 5 : NSC
CLR 6: SS
SSO
UNCLASSIFIED
EUR/NB:ALSILSKI:ALS
11/01/00 7-8378
EUR: DSHAMILTON
EUR/NB: DEGRAZE S/CPR:KTOWNSEND
P: :LLTEPPER
S/S-CR: BDHORTON NSCS:
S/S-O:
S/S:
IMMEDIATE VILNIUS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC (PAKSAS, ROLANDAS), LH
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL CONGRATULATION TO PM PAKSAS
1. (U) Please pass the following message to Prime Minister
Rolandas Paksas at the earliest appropriate time. The
White House does not plan to release the text of the
message but has no objection if the Government of Lithuania
wishes to do so. There will be no signed original.
2. Begin text:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you as you
take the post as Prime Minister of the Republic of
Lithuania.
Under the U.S.-Baltic Charter during the past year,
Lithuania has done much to promote our already excellent
bilateral ties. Lithuania has led the way in the region in
promoting good neighborly relations, and has made
remarkable progress in building its own democratic
institutions, lowering barriers to trade, and helping
create a spirit of common security in Europe. We also
UNCLASSIFIED
FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER
(THU) 11. 2'00 15:27/ST. 15:26/NO. 3700000920 P 3
UNCLASSIFIED
2
welcome the "Vilnius Statement" of last spring as a
visionary declaration emblematic of this inclusive spirit.
NATO'S
We remain committed to the Open Door and to helping create
the conditions for Lithuania to cross the threshold, We
look forward to working closely with you in pursuit
of
these common goals.
Sincerely,
William J. Clinton
End text.
YY
and int fill and integration transatlant tran in the Alliance
institutions.
UNCLASSIFIED
Oct-30-00 05:36pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-622 P.01
F-821
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
WASHINGTON, D.C.
VAŠINGTONAS
10/30/2000
Mr. Richard Norland
Director
NSC
Dear Dick,
Mr. Palisan
has been
appointed the Prime minister
Doos of Lithmaria on October 27,
fixcerely,
Hary
- LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT GIVES FINAL APPROVAL OF NEW PRIME MINISTER
VILNIUS, Oct 27, BNS - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
signed a decree on Friday appointing Rolandas Paksas to the post of
Lithuania''s prime Minster.
The Lithuanian Seimas [parliament] gave its approval last
Thursday.
In line with the constitution, the prime minister is appointed
and released by the country's president on the approval of the
Seimas.
The president has authorised the new prime minister to form the
new cabinet of ministers in 15 days and to present the list of
ministers for the president''s approval. Ministers in Lithuania are
appointed and released by the president of the country on the prime
minister''s recommendation.
The prime minister will also have to draw up the government's
programme in 15 days and to present it to the parliament for
approval.
2622 16TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009
202-234-5860
FAX 202-328-0466
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.10.31 Time: 18:12:34
Page 1 of 1
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
VAŠINGTONAS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
News Release
Contact: Rolandas Kacinskas
October 31, 2000
Phone: (202) 234-5860 X 21
President approves the new Government of Lithuania
Vilnius - On October 30, having regard to the recommendations of
Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas, President Valdas Adamkus approved
by a decree the new government of the Republic of Lithuania of the
following composition:
Gintautas Bartkus -
Minister of Justice
Vilija Blinkeviciute -
Minister of Social Security and Labor
Vinsas Janusonis -
Minister of Health
Gintautas Kevisas -
Minister of Culture
Kestutis Kristinaitis -
Minister of Agriculture
Linas Linkevicius -
Minister of National Defense
Jonas Lionginas -
Minister of Finance
Eugenijus Maldeikis -
Minister of National Economy
Vytautas Markevicius -
Minister of the Interior
Algirdas Monkevicius -
Minister of Education and Science
Gintaras Striaukas -
Minister of Transport
Antanas Valionis -
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The decree on the composition of the government enters force on the
date of its signing. A new government will be empowered to act
after the Seimas (Parliament) approves its program. It is expected
that the government will present its program to the Seimas for
consideration on November 3.
Minister of Environment is to be appointed in the nearest future,
after President meets two candidates nominated for this position.
Ministers of the new coalition government are members or nominees
of Liberal Union and New Union (Social Liberals) which signed a
coalition agreement together with two other minor parties on the
formation of the government after the parliamentary elections on
October 8. The coalition named non-party members Antanas Valionis,
Lithuania's ambassador to neighboring Poland, as Foreign Minister
and Linas Linkevicius, Lithuania's ambassador to NATO, as Defense
Minister.
On October 26, newly elected Seimas adopted a resolution on
continuation of the country's foreign policy. Resolution reads as
follows: "International policy will be continued according to the
priorities corresponding to Lithuanian Constitution and laws and
defined by the President, in order to achieve invitation by 2002 to
the North Atlantic Alliance - NATO - and EU membership in 2004, as
well as developing good relations with all neighboring states".
2622 16TH STREET, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009 - PHONE 202/ 234-5860 FAX 202/ 328-0466
Oct-26-00 11:11am
From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-548
P.01
F-692
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
VAŠINGTONAS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
per stays, until swond pakies,
7
Hdd
we colint
do
POTUS note
10-25-2000
Mr. Richard Norland
Director
National Security Council
Dear Spick Mr. Norland,
I have the privilege to inform you that Mr. Rolandas Paksas, Chairman of the Lithuanian
Liberal Union was confirmed today by the Parliament as the new Prime Minister of the
Republic of Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian Constitution, Prime Minister Paksas
within 15 days has to submit to the Parliament for approval the new Cabinet and the
governmental program.
Please find attached the news information on the Prime Minister's confirmation.
Sincerely,
Hasys S.
Stasys Sakalauskas
Ambassador
2622 16TH STREET, N.W. . WASHINGTON. D.C. 20009 . TEL. (202)234-5860 FAX: (202) 328-0466
Oct-26-00 11:11am
From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-548
P.02
F-692
REUTER 2000.10.26 12:23:20
LITHUANIA-GOVERNMENT-PAKSAS URGENT
Lithuanian parlt approves Paksas PM nomination
VILNIUS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament approved
the nomination of Vilnius Mayor Rolandas Paksas as prime
minister on Thursday, leaving him two weeks to form a cabinet to
submit along with his programme for a final vote by lawmakers.
Paksas, 44, held the post for five months in 1999. He
stepped down in protest over a controversial oil sector
privatisation deal, left the now outgoing ruling Homeland Union
party and currently leads the laissez faire Liberal Union.
Boosted by Paksas, the Liberals placed second in an October
8 general election, gaining 34 of parliament's 141 seats, and
formed a minority coalition with new Parliament Speaker Arturas
Paulauskas's New Union, which has 29 seats.
Parliament approved his nomination, made by President Valdas
Adamkus on Monday, in a 79-51 vote with seven abstaining,
Paulauskas told the chamber. Only 137 of parliament's members
took part in the vote.
Paksas is expected to push a pro-business programme of tax
cuts, streamlining government and European Union and NATO
integration, although his minority status will limit his room to
manoeuvre. He told parliament he expects to finalise his cabinet
and programme as early as next week.
REUTERS
1328 261000
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Wednesday, October 18, 2000 10:54 AM
To:
Babbitt, James F. (VP); Banbury, Anthony "Tony" N. (MULTI); Blinken, Antony J. (EUR);
Cables; Crawford, Bernard T. (RECORDS); Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Greenwood, Thomas
C. (SEE); Kass, Nicholas S. (EUR); Mclean, Matthew K. (MULTI); Munter, Cameron P.
(EUR); Naplan, Steven J. (MULTI); Norland, Richard B. (EUR); Patten, Wendy L. (MULTI);
Schwartz, Eric P. (MULTI); Shea, Dorothy C. (MULTILAT); Smith, Peter D.R. (MULTI);
Wilcox, Richard M. (MULTI); Yee, Hoyt B. (EUR)
Subject:
DEPUTY SECRETARY EIZENSTAT'S MEETINGS AT VILNIUS INTERNATIONAL FORUM
ON HOLOCAUST ERA LOOTED CULTURAL ASSETS
ActionAddees:
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2300
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
DateTime:
181415Z OCT 00
Distribution:
SIT: BABBITT BANBURY BLINKEN NSC CRAWFORD DAVIDSON GREENWOOD KASS
MCLEAN
MUNTER NAPLAN NORLAND PATTEN SCHWARTZ SHEA SMITHP WILCOX YEE
Identifier:
M4684863
InfoAddees:
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
Line1:
OAAUZYUW RUEHVLA2941 2921415-UUUU--RHEHAAX.
Line2:
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
Line3:
O 181415Z OCT 00
Line4:
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
Originator:
AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
Precedence:
IMMEDIATE
Profiles:
BABBITTJ
BANBURYA
BLINKENA
CABLES
CRAWFORB
DAVIDSOL
GREENWOT
KASSN
MCLEANM
MUNTERC
NAPLANS
NORLANDR
PATTENW
SCHWARTE
SHEAD
SMITHP
WILCOXR
YEEH
StationRoutingIndicator:
RUEHVL
StationSerialNumber:
2941
TimeOfReceipt:
10/18/2000 10:53:16 ET
UNCLAS VILNIUS 002941
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF DEPSEC - HMOORE
DEPT FOR: EUR/NB, EUR/OHI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR, PREL, RU, FR, IS, LH
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY EIZENSTAT'S MEETINGS AT VILNIUS
INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON HOLOCAUST ERA LOOTED CULTURAL ASSETS
1. SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT
1
ACCORDINGLY.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: TREASURY DEPUTY SECRETARY EIZENSTAT
MET WITH THE FRENCH, ISRAELI, RUSSIAN AND LATVIAN
DELEGATIONS ON THE MARGINS OF THE OCTOBER 3-5 VILNIUS
FORUM ON HOLOCAUST ERA LOOTED CULTURAL ASSETS.
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FRENCH FOCUSED ON GOF
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MATTEOLI COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE ONGOING WORK OF THE DRAI
FOUNDATION, AND ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT BY PM JOSPIN OF
THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT JEWISH
CULTURE IN FRANCE. THE ISRAELI DELEGATION RAISED THE
ISSUE OF FINAL DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED CULTURAL OBJECTS
ONCE THEY ARE DETERMINED TO BE HEIRLESS. THE FOCUS OF
THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION BILAT (BOTH GOR AND NGO REPS
REPORTED SEPTEL) WAS ON UTILIZATION OF AN U.S. PRIVATE-
SECTOR GRANT TO ACCESS AND CATALOGUE RUSSIAN ARCHIVES
AND IDENTIFY POSSIBLE LOOTED JEWISH PROPERTY TO FULFILL
A RUSSIAN COMMITMENT MADE AT THE 1998 WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE ON HOLOCAUST-ERA ASSETS. THE LATVIAN
DELEGATION PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF DOMESTIC LEGISLATION
ADDRESSING RESTITUTION FOR LOOTED AND OCCUPIED PROPERTY
(BOTH NAZI AND SOVIET-ERA) AND DISPOSITION OF CLAIMS
MADE UNDER THESE LAWS. THE FULL TEXT OF THE FORUM
DECLARATION IS FOUND AT PARA 9. END SUMMARY.
FRENCH BILAT
3. (SBU) EIZENSTAT NOTED THE USG'S CLOSE AND ONGOING
COOPERATION ON HOLOCAUST CULTURAL ASSETS WITH THE GOF
DATING BACK TO THE DRAFTING OF THE WASHINGTON
PRINCIPLES. FURTHER, HE HAD MET SEVERAL TIMES IN THE
PAST WITH CHAIRMAN MATTEOLI AND ISSUED A STATEMENT
COMMENDING THE MATTEOLI COMMISSION FOR THE RIGOR AND
OBJECTIVITY OF ITS REPORT, AND THANKING PRESIDENT CHIRAC
FOR ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION. EIZENSTAT ASKED FOR
INFORMATION ON THE GOF'S INITIATIVE OF POSTING SEVERAL
THOUSAND PIECES OF ART OF UNKNOWN PROVENANCE FROM
UNCLAIMED WORKS RETURNED AFTER WORLD WAR II ON THE
INTERNET - HOW MANY NEW CLAIMS HAD BEEN FILED? ALSO,
HE ASKED WHAT THE GOF WOULD DO WITH CULTURAL ASSETS FOR
WHICH NO HEIR WAS IDENTIFIED - WOULD THEY BE RETURNED TO
MUSEUMS? HE NOTED THAT ALL GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED IN
THIS ISSUE WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE QUESTION OF FINAL
DISPOSITION OF "HEIRLESS" ART.
4. (SBU) THE FRENCH DELEGATION, LED BY STATE SECRETARY
FOR CULTURE DUFFOUR, RESPONDED THAT THE INTERNET
POSTINGS HAD NOT AS YET GENERATED ANY SPECIFIC CLAIMS.
UNCLAIMED ART WOULD REMAIN IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS.
HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WASHINGTON PRINCIPLES
THE WORKS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PANEL EXPLAINING
THEIR UNCLAIMED STATUS. THE LOUVRE INTENDS TO OPEN A
GALLERY DEDICATED TO DISPLAY OF UNCLAIMED ART. ALSO,
SOME OF THE MAJOR WORKS WILL BE LOANED ON A ROTATING
BASIS TO THE JERUSALEM MUSEUM.
5.(SBU) DUFFOUR INDICATED THAT PM JOSPIN WILL ANNOUNCE
ON NOVEMBER 5 THE CREATION OF A FF2.8 BILLION FOUNDATION
FOR SOCIAL/EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING JEWISH
CULTURE IN FRANCE. HALF OF THE FF2.8 BILLION WERE BEING
PROVIDED BY THE GOF WITH THE OTHER HALF COMING FROM
2
BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. FOUNDATION PROJECTS
COULD INCLUDE SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY CHAIRS, YIDDISH
THEATER, AND YIDDISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION
WILL HAVE 25 BOARD MEMBERS 10 FROM JEWISH/FRENCH
ORGANIZATIONS, 8 FROM THE GOF, AND 7 "QUALIFIED" MEMBERS
FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS. DUFFOUR NOTED THE LAST
CATEGORY WILL INCLUDE FOREIGN MEMBERS AND THAT AN U.S.
AND ISRAELI PRESENCE WOULD BE WELCOMED. THE GOF HAS
APPROACHED SIMONE WEILL TO ACT AS PRESIDENT OF THE
COMMISSION, BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE (DUFFOUR
BELIEVES SHE WILL ACCEPT.)
6.(SBU) EIZENSTAT ASKED WHETHER THIS NEW FOUNDATION
WILL ALSO INCLUDE FUNDS FOR REMUNERATION FOR PROPERTY
LOSS AND SUFFERING. DUFFOUR INDICATED IT WOULD NOT. HE
STATED THAT THE DRAI COMMISSION, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS
8,000 ACTIVE CLAIMS, WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR
HANDLING ALL REMUNERATION CASES FOR PROPERTY LOSS OR
SUFFERING. THE COMMISSION, WHICH GIVES PRIORITY TO
CLAIMS FROM AGED AND POOR CLAIMANTS, IS FUNDED ALSO BY
THE GOF AND BANKS. BOTH THE GOF AND BANKS HAVE AGREED
THAT ALL FINDINGS FOR REMUNERATION BY THE COMMISSION
WILL BE BINDING. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD FRENCH CITIZENSHIP
DURING THE WAR AND HAD SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME CITIZENS OF
OTHER COUNTRIES REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR REMUNERATION.
ISRAELI BILAT
7. (SBU) THE ISRAELI DELEGATION, LED BY COLETTE AVITAL
CHAIR OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON RESTITUTION OF
ASSETS OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS, RAISED THE ISSUE OF
INCLUSION IN THE FORUM DECLARATION OF LANGUAGE
ADDRESSING FINAL DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED OR HEIRLESS
ART. EIZENSTAT INDICATED THAT REACHING CONSENSUS ON
DEFINITIVE LANGUAGE ON THIS ISSUE WOULD BE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT, GIVEN DIFFERING NATIONAL LEGAL TREATMENT OF
UNCLAIMED OR HEIRLESS PROPERTY. AFTER FURTHER
NEGOTIATIONS AMONG DELEGATION HEADS AGREEMENT WAS
REACHED ON THE LANGUAGE FOUND AT PARA 6 OF THE
DECLARATION (SEE PARA 9 BELOW.)
LATVIAN BILAT
8. (SBU) LATVIAN JUSTICE MINISTER INGRIDA LABUCKA
PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF GOL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF PROPERTY COMPENSATION FROM THE NAZI AND SOVIET
OCCUPATIONS. LABUCKA INDICATED THAT LATVIAN LAW ALLOWED
INDIVIDUALS WHO HELD LATVIAN CITIZENSHIP DURING THE WAR,
BUT HAD TAKEN OTHER CITIZENSHIP SINCE THEN, TO FILE FOR
COMPENSATION FOR PROPERTY LOSS AND SUFFERING. UNDER
THIS LAW TEN OF NINETEEN JEWISH COMMUNAL CLAIMS
(SYNAGOGUES, SCHOOLS) HAD ALREADY BEEN SETTLED.
HOWEVER, THE LATVIAN DELEGATION INDICATED THAT NO CLAIMS
FOR JEWISH LOOTED ART HAD AS YET BEEN FILED. THEY ALSO
NOTED THAT A HOLOCAUST EXPERTS CONFERENCE WAS BEING
ORGANIZED IN RIGA FOR OCTOBER 16-17 OF THIS YEAR.
EIZENSTAT COMMENDED THE LATVIANS FOR ALLOWING FORMER
CITIZENS TO FILE CLAIMS UNDER THEIR LAW, AN IMPORTANT
LEGAL PROVISION NOT ADDRESSED IN A MAJORITY OF OTHER
3
NATIONS' LAWS.
FORUM DECLARATION
9. FORUM DECLARATION TEXT:
(UNCLASSIFIED IN TOTAL)
RECOGNIZING THE MASSIVE AND UNPRECEDENTED LOOTING AND
CONFISCATIONS OF ART AND OTHER CULTURAL PROPERTY OWNED
BY JEWISH INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS, AND THE
NEED TO REACH JUST AND FAIR SOLUTIONS TO THE RETURN OF
SUCH ART AND CULTURAL PROPERTY,
REFERRING TO RESOLUTION 1205 OF THE PARLIAMENTARY
ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND THE WASHINGTON
CONFERENC PRINCIPLES ON NAZI-CONFISCATED ART,
NOTING IN PARTICULAR THEIR EMPHASIS ON REACHING JUST AND
FAIR SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES INVOLVING RESTITUTION OF
CULTURAL ASSETS LOOTED DURING THE HOLOCAUST ERA AND THE
FACT THAT SUCH SOLUTIONS MAY VARY ACCORDING TO THE
DIFFERING LEGAL SYSTEMS AMONG COUNTRIES AND
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING A SPECIFIC CASE,
MAKES THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION:
(1) THE VILNIUS FORUM ASKS ALL GOVERNMENTS TO UNDERTAKE
EVERY REASONABLE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE RESTITUTION OF
CULTURAL ASSETS LOOTED DURING THE HOLOCAUST ERA TO THE
ORIGINAL OWNERS OR THEIR HEIRS. TO THIS END, IT
ENCOURAGES ALL PARTICIPATING STATES TO TAKE ALL
REASONABLE MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THE WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE PRINCIPLES ON NAZI-CONFISCATED ART AS WELL AS
RESOLUTION 1205 OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE.
(2) IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE VILNIUS FORUM ASKS
GOVERNMENTS, MUSEUMS, THE ART TRADE AND OTHER RELEVANT
AGENCIES TO PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION NECESSARY TO SUCH
RESTITUTION. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION OF
LOOTED ASSETS; THE IDENTIFICATION AND PROVISION OF
ACCESS TO ARCHIVES, PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL; AND THE
PROVISION OF ALL DATA ON CLAIMS FROM THE HOLOCAUST ERA
UNTIL TODAY. GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER BODIES AS MENTIONED
ABOVE ARE ASKED TO MAKE SUCH INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES AND FURTHER TO COOPERATE IN
ESTABLISHING HYPERLINKS TO A CENTRALIZED WEBSITE IN
ASSOCIATION WITH THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE. THE FORUM
FURTHER ENCOURAGES GOVERNMENTS, MUSEUMS, THE ART TRADE
AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES TO COOPERATE AND SHARE
INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT ARCHIVES REMAIN OPEN AND
ACCESSIBLE AND OPERATE IN AS TRANSPARENT A MANNER AS
POSSIBLE.
(3) IN ORDER TO FURTHER FACILITATE THE JUST AND FAIR
RESOLUTION OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ISSUES, THE VILNIUS
FORUM ASKS EACH GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN OR ESTABLISH A
CENTRAL REFERENCE AND POINT OF INQUIRY TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION AND HELP ON ANY QUERY REGARDING LOOTED
CULTURAL ASSETS, ARCHIVES AND CLAIMS IN EACH COUNTRY.
(4) RECOGNIZING THE NAZI EFFORT TO EXTERMINATE THE
4
JEWISH PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE EFFORT TO ERADICATE THE
JEWISH CULTURAL HERITAGE, THE VILNIUS FORUM RECOGNIZES
THE URGENT NEED TO WORK ON WAYS TO ACHIEVE A JUST AND
FAIR SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OF NAZI-LOOTED ART AND
CULTURAL PROPERTY WHERE OWNERS, OR HEIRS OF FORMER
JEWISH OWNERS, INDIVIDUALS OR LEGAL PERSONS, CANNOT BE
IDENTIFIED; RECOGNIZES THAT THERE IS NO UNIVERSAL MODEL
FOR THIS ISSUE; AND RECOGNIZES THE PREVIOUS JEWISH
OWNERSHIP OF SUCH CULTURAL ASSETS.
(5) THE VILNIUS FORUM PROPOSES TO GOVERNMENTS THAT
PERIODICAL INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETINGS ARE HELD TO
EXCHANGE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE WASHINGTON PRINCIPLES, THE RESOLUTION 1205 OF THE
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND THE
VILNIUS DECLARATION. THESE MEETINGS SHOULD ALSO SERVE
TO ADDRESS OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS AND DEVELOP,
FOR GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER, POSSIBLE REMEDIES WITHIN
THE FRAMEWORK OF EXISTING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
STRUCTURES AND INSTRUMENTS.
(6) THE VILNIUS FORUM WELCOMES THE PROGRESS BEING MADE
BY COUNTRIES TO TAKE THE MEASURES NECESSARY, WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THEIR OWN LAWS, TO ASSIST IN THE
IDENTIFICATION AND RESTITUTION OF CULTURAL ASSETS LOOTED
DURING THE HOLOCAUST ERA AND THE RESOLUTION OF
OUTSTANDING ISSUES.
END TEXT.
10. (SBU) PLEASE NOTE: EMBASSY VILNIUS PROVIDED THE ABOVE TEXT
FOR CLEARANCE BY O-I. THE DEPUTY SECRETARY WAS NOT ABLE TO
CLEAR THIS TEXT. AMBASSADOR BINDENAGEL HAS CLEARED. WE
ARE SENDING IT AS IS PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM DEPARTMENT.
TEFFT
5
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20504
October 17, 2000
Dear Stasys:
Thank you for your recent letters. I share your assessment that
the Vilnius Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets was a
success. Deputy Secretary Eizenstat was impressed with
arrangements for the Forum, and said he believes it will
contribute significantly to efforts to address this important
issue, which has dragged on for too long. Lithuania's
determination to pursue this and other issues stemming from the
Holocaust, including convictions of Nazi war criminals, is
deeply appreciated.
In your letter of September 25, you expressed concern about
funding for FMF and IMET. As you rightly noted, the
Administration firmly supports continued FMF and IMET funding
for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Congress voted
to use FY 2001 funds foreseen for FMF and IMET for other
purposes. Nonetheless, we are optimistic that the FMF and IMET
funding for Central and Eastern European countries will be
restored in the final FY 2001 allocation. We agree with you,
and with your fellow ambassadors from the region, that FMF and
IMET funding is a high priority.
Thank you for your dynamic leadership in developing the
increasingly broad and full agenda of U.S.-Lithuanian relations.
I look forward to active engagement with the new Government in
Lithuania once it takes office, and to continuing our close
cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Sincerely,
Tony
Antony Blinken
Special Assistant to the President
and Senior Director for European
Affairs
His Excellency
Stasys Sakalauskas
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
2622 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
VAŠINGTONAS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
October 6, 2000
Mr. Antony J. Blinken
Special Assistant to the President
National Security Council
Old Executive Building
Washington, DC 20501
Jony
Dear Mr. Blinken :
I thought you might be interested in learning about the Vilnius Forum on Holocaust Era
Looted Cultural Assets that has successfully ended with the adoption of Vilnius
Declaration on restoration of Jewish cultural values.
As you probably know, on the 3 - 5 October, 2000, Lithuania hosted a major International
event that followed the work of the 1997 London Conference on Nazi Gold, the 1998
Washington Conference on Holocaust - Era Assets, and the more recent Stockholm
International Forum on the Holocaust Education. The Forum was held under the auspices
of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Andrius Kubilius and the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, and it was attended by delegations
of more than 40 countries and 17 non-governmental organizations.
I hereby have a pleasure to forward to you the text of Declaration. Please find also
enclosed some other material, related to the work of the Vilnius Forum.
I am especially glad to inform you that wishing to contribute to the historical justice and
restitution of cultural heritage, Lithuania passed a law on October 3, providing for the
conditions to return holy Jewish writings - Torahs - to the ownership of the Jewish
people. Enclosed is information on that too.
Among other issues, the Vilnius Forum discussed the tragic pages of Lithuanian Jewish
history. The seminar, organized by the International Commission for the Evaluation of
the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania in collaboration with
Vilnius International Relations Institute and Lithuanian Academy of Science, was
2622 16TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009
202-234-5860
FAX 202-328-0466
attended by the participants of the Vilnius Forum, historians, politicians, Lithuanian
Genocide and Resistance Research Center, and Prosecutor's General Office. Lithuanian
historians called the period discussed in this seminar the darkest pages of the Lithuania
history. With this regard, I would like to forward to your attention Prosecutor's General
office statement of September 27, 2000 which stresses that A.Lileikis was not the only
suspect on the prosecutor's list of indicated war criminals, and the efforts to seek
historical justice will be continued.
With all this in mind, let me reiterate my respect to you and your sincere interest in my
country. Wishing you all the best,
Sincerely,
S.
Ambassador
Stasys Hary, Sakalauskas
Vilnius International Forum
Dich
historical and moral evaluation of the persecution
on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets
and annihilation of Lithuanian citizens perpetrated
Vilnius, 3 - 5 October, 2000
by Nazi and Soviet occupations are important for
Press releases I Latest news ]
the reestablishment of the historical justice. This is
the task assigned to the Commission.
According to the Prime Minister, the people of
2000 04 10; 18.00
Lithuania must know facts about the old culture of
Lithuanian Jews that has always been an
SUMMARY OF THE SPEECH BY
indivisible part of the Lithuanian culture. "Quite
MR. ANDRIUS KUBILIUS, PRIME
recently, I suggested that Lithuania hold a
separate Forum on Holocaust aimed at the
MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF
general public. Today, we have already finalized a
LITHUANIA, DELIVERED AT THE
national Programme for the Teaching of Holocaust
OPENING; OF THE PLENARY
which has been evaluated very highly at the
international level. Its purpose is to teach, to
SESSION OF THE VILNIUS
educate our young people", said Mr Kubilius.
INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON
"Holocaust issues were placed on the education
programmes, lectures on this topic are given in
HOLOCAUST-ERA
LOOTED
the Army, NGOs joined the educational activities".
CULTURAL ASSETS
Mr Kubilius appealed to the participants of the
Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Mr.
Forum and the international community in the
Andrius Kubilius addressed the participants of the
hope of attracting all kinds of their support to these
efforts.
Vilnius Forum by remembering the painful period
of the Jewish history, which befell on the
Lithuanian Jews, too. "This is a painful and difficult
"Dear participants of the Forum", said Mr Kubilius,
recalling the fact that "in the years of Soviet and
topic. The Lithuanian public is becoming more and
Nazi occupations, Lithuanian was devastated and
more conscious of the tragedy of Lithuanian Jews
destroyed as a state. The Soviet and Nazi
as, first and foremost, the tragedy of entire
occupations destroyed most of the Lithuanian
Lithuania. I am convinced that this understanding
will become an axiom of the modern life in
national property, completely confused property
relations, and Lithuanian Jews lost everything in
Lithuania", said Mr. Kubilius.
the years of Holocaust. Since the very restoration
of independence, we have attempted to settle the
The Head of the Government expressed his wish
sensitive issues of restitution", said Mr Kubilius.
that people should not only seek, and find, an
answer to the question "why some Lithuanians
"Several important laws were passed which entitle
Lithuanian citizens, who are not permanent
took part in the Holocaust initiated by Nazis, but
also should try to compensate the moral and
residents of the Republic of Lithuania, to have
material damage inflicted on the Jewish people.
their ownership rights to the remaining immovable
Lithuania should provide no space for
property restored. The property which cannot be
anti-Semitism".
restored in kind, is compensated in cash."
"In the light of immortal spiritual strength of
According. to Mr Kubilius, Lithuania itself has
Litvaks, the organization of the Forum to debate
received no compensation for the damage
on the identification, stock-taking and restitution of
suffered during the occupations, however, the
Government of Lithuania, constantly working
cultural assets owned or created by Holocaust
victims in Vilnius is symbolic indeed. On the other
towards historical justice, is ready to continue the
hand, this is a recognition of Lithuania's policy on
dialogue with global Jewish organizations. in
the restitution of Jewish cultural heritage."
search of mutually acceptable new ways to
restitute the property owned by Lithuanian Jews or
Mr. Kubilius reminded the audience that decisions
compensate for it".
pertaining to the tidying-up of neglected Jewish
cemeteries, maintenance of the sites of Jewish
"The restitution and fostering of the Jewish cultural
national tragedy or lost cultural assets were
heritage is the best possible monument to the
victims who endured the most dreadful Holocaust
among the first pieces of legislation passed by
atrocities. With due respect to Jewish religious
independent Lithuania.
feelings and wishing to contribute to the historical
To solve the numerous questions concerning the
justice, we have passed a law providing for the
Holocaust in Lithuania, the President of the
conditions to return holy Jewish writings to the
Republic set up an International Commission for
ownership of the Jewish people, first of all, the
the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and
community of Litvaks", said Mr. Kubilius.
Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania a couple
"Yesterday, the Seimas adopted a separate law on
of years ago. Mr. Kubilius maintained that in his
this issue. Now, it is time for us to make next step:
opinion, it is not only the outcome of the trials of
upon the proposal of the Lithuanian Jewish
persons charged with genocide, but also the
Community, we have to set up an international
expert commission to take the stock of the torahs
International Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets
wysiwyg://230/http://www.vilniusforum.lt/news/press1004_5.htm
stored in our National Library and carry out their
high-quality analysis".
In the conclusion of his speech, Mr Kubilius
thanked all the participants of the Forum for their
arrival and expressed a hope that the Vilnius
Forum will go down into history alongside the
London Conference (1997), the Washington
Forum (1998) and the Stockholm Forum (1999) as
"an event which enabled us to recover from
oblivion the unknown facts of Holocaust tragedy
and as one more step towards the historical
justice".
[ Press releases I Latest news ]
Last modified: Wednesday, October 4, 2000
LT AAK Jewish Torahs Handover
Seimas demonstrates goodwill in handover of Jewish religious books
Vilnius, Oct 3 (ELTA) - A bill was passed in Lithuanian Seimas Tuesday to outline a
procedure for handover of Jewish Torahs, currently stored in state depositories, to either
Jewish communities or societies.
This document demonstrated the goodwill of Lithuania which "realises importance of
Torahs for the Jewish religious and cultural tradition".
It reads that upon request of Jewish religious communities or societies the Torahs
deposited in National Mazvydas Library may be handed over to their ownership
gratuitously. However, Torahs of particular significance for Lithuania's cultural heritage
shall not be granted to the Jewish communities based in foreign countries.
The criteria for selection of Torahs subject to handover and a list thereof will be
approved by the Cabinet as recommended by the ministry of culture and Jewish
community.
The bill on Torahs handover binds the national government to endorse the aforesaid
procedure and list by December 15, 2000. END.
LT AAK Jews Torahs Handover Comments
Lithuanian MP views Torah handover as goodwill gesture by Seimas
Vilnius, Oct 3 (ELTA) - Shortly after passage of important bill on handover of Jewish
religious Torah scrolls to the Jews communities from state depositories on Tuesday,
Chairman of Seimas cultural committee Zibartas Jackunas commented that thus
Lithuanian parliament paid "proper homage to these cultural values".
"This means a goodwill gesture of Lithuania made in pursuit of expanding good
political and cultural links with the Jewish communities based in Lithuania and
worldwide," Jackunas told ELTA.
The bill provides for gratuitous handover of Torahs from National Martynas Mazvydas
Library to Jewish religious communities or societies upon their request. However, the
Torah scrolls considered as of crucial value for Lithuania's cultural heritage shall not be
given to the communities based abroad.
The chairman of cultural committee stated that up to now taking of Torahs from the
country had been permitted only in two cases - in exchange for some other cultural value
important for Lithuania or in the event the country was bound by international law to give
back the values which had been seized and brought here illegally.
"Now the parliament established the third option of handing over Torahs by adopting a
bill -- when governmental resolution permits this," Jackunas added.
The Cabinet will have to draft selection criteria and a list of Torahs subject to handover
by December 15.
Jackunas also affirmed that Torah scrolls, except for those which had been granted to
local synagogues, were stored in Mazvydas Library, all in all 370 scrolls, but number of
those which can be used at religious ritual without restoration was put at merely 40.
END.
PRESS RELEASE
Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Lithuania
September 27, 2000
Prosecutor General's Office pays much attention to the investigation of genocide and war
crimes and seeks that all Nazi criminals carried criminal liability and were sentenced.
Amendments to the Criminal Process Code and the Criminal Code, as well as additions to
the laws of the Republic of Lithuania adopted by the Seimas provide for implementing
the above mentioned objectives. According to the adopted amendment and addition of the
Criminal Process Code court proceedings of cases may take place without the presence of
defendants in the court if persons charged with genocide and war crimes are incapable of
attending court proceedings due to their poor health. Prosecutor General's Office of
Lithuania has initiated and is investigating 91 criminal cases of genocide and war crimes.
15 criminal cases were transferred to the court including the criminal case of Aleksandras
Lileikis (born 1907). Prosecutor General's Office claims that enough evidence was
collected in Lileikis' case to prove that he was guilty of committing genocide during the
Nazi regime. The Seimas, the Government and the Prosecutor General's Office of the
Republic of Lithuania did everything to make Lileikis face the trial. However, before the
Vilnius district court adopted the decision, defendant Lileikis passed away in the
department of cardiac reanimation of Vilnius University Hospital on September 26, 2000.
The death was caused by heart attack, endema of lungs, cardiac shock, sudden
insufficiency of kidney functions, growing more acute of obstructive bronchitis.
General Prosecutor's Office has expressed regret that the important decision to carry out
the historic justice has not been adopted in this case because of the desease and death of
the defendant.
Lileikis is not the only suspect on the Prosecutor General's Office list of indicted war
criminals. The efforts to seek historic justice will be continued, as genocide and war
crimes do not have a prescription period. The Republic of Lithuania, Prosecutor General's
Office of Lithuania carrying out the laws of the state and adhering consistently to
international obligations will closely cooperate with legal institutions of foreign countries
SO that the suspects of genocide and war crimes would face the trial.
International Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets
http://www.vilniusforum.it/docs/declaration.htm
Vilnius International Forum
on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets
Vilnius 3 5 October, 2000
Invitation I Presentations and theses I Greetings to the
Forum I Presentations from workshops I Declaration
Concluding presentation I Documents, related to the looted
jewish cultural assets ]
VILNIUS FORUM DECLARATION
The Vilnius Forum,
and operate in as transparent a manner as
possible.
Recognizing the massive and unprecedented
looting and confiscations of art and other cultural
3. In order further to facilitate the just and fair
property owned by Jewish individuals,
resolution of the above mentioned issues,
communities and others, and the need to reach
the Vilnius Forum asks each government to
just and fair solutions to the return of such art and
maintain or establish a central reference
cultural property,
and point of inquiry to provide information
and help on any query regarding looted
Referring to Resolution 1205 of the Parliamentary
cultural assets, archives and claims in each
Assembly of the Council of Europe and the
country.
Washington Conference Principles on
Nazi-Confiscated Art,
4. Recognizing the Nazi effort to exterminate
the Jewish people, including the effort to
Noting in particular their emphasis on reaching just
eradicate the Jewish cultural heritage, the
and fair solutions to issues involving restitution of
Vilnius Forum recognizes the urgent need
cultural assets looted during the Holocaust era
to work on ways to achieve a just and fair
and the fact that such solutions may vary
solution to the issue of Nazi-looted art and
according to the differing legal systems among
cultural property where owners, or heirs of
countries and the circumstances surrounding a
former Jewish owners, individuals or legal
specific case,
persons, cannot be identified; recognizes
that there is no universal model for this
Makes the following declaration:
issue; and recognizes the previous Jewish
ownership of such cultural assets,
1. The Vilnius Forum asks all governments to
undertake every reasonable effort to
5. The Vilnius Forum proposes to
achieve the restitution of cultural assets
governments that periodical international
looted during the Holocaust era to the
expert meetings are held to exchange
original owners or their heirs. To this end, it
views and experiences on the
encourages all participating States to take
implementation of the Washington
all reasonable measures to implement the
Principles, the Resolution 1205 of the
Washington Conference Principles on
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Nazi-Confiscated Art as well as Resolution
Europe and the Vilnius Declaration. These
1205 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
meetings should also serve to address
Council of Europe.
outstanding issues and problems and
develop, for governments to consider,
2. In order to achieve this, the Vilnius Forum
possible remedies within the framework of
asks governments, museums, the art trade
existing national and international
and other relevant agencies to provide all
structures and instruments.
information necessary to such restitution.
This will include the identification of looted
6. The Vilnius Forum welcomes the progress
assets; the identification and provision of
being made by countries to take the
access to archives, public and commercial;
measures necessary, within the context of
and the provision of all data on claims from
their own laws, to assist in the identification
the Holocaust era until today. Governments
and restitution of cultural assets looted
and other bodies as mentioned above are
during the Holocaust era and the resolution
asked to make such information available
of outstanding issues.
on publicly accessible websites and further
to co-operate in establishing hyperlinks to a
centralized website in association with the
Council of Europe. The Forum further
[ Invitation I Presentations and theses I Greetings to the
encourages governments, museums, the
Forum I Presentations from workshops I Declaration
art trade and other relevant agencies to
Concluding presentation I Documents, related to the looted
co-operate and share information to ensure
jewish cultural assets ]
that archives remain open and accessible
E
Sep-25-00 04:50pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-141 P.01/06 F-807
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
WASHINGTON, D.C.
VAŠINGTONAS
September 25, 2000
Mr. Anothony Blinken
Special Assistant to the President
Senior Director for European Affairs
Camezon -
National Security Council
Fax: (202) 456-9150
we shlu do
L reply
Dear Jony,
I want to bring to your attention a copy of the letter from twelve Ambassadors of Central
European countries to Senator Mitch McConnell regarding the funding for the Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET)
programs for the next year. Identical letters were also sent to Senator Patrick J. Leahy,
Congressman Sonny Callahan and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. As we spoke earlier, I
remain sure that the abolishment of the FMF program would have a negative impact on
the development of the U.S security-military relations with the Central and East
European countries. Furthermore, I believe you will agree that such a step by the
Congress will contradict the current policy of the U.S. Government.
I thank you for your consideration of this important issue. We look forward for your
continuous support and kindly ask you to use all possible means to help to correct this
situation.
Sincerely,
Haliday
Stasys Sakalauskas
Ambassador
Enclose: letter, 2 pages
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009
202-234-5860
FAX 202-328-0466
2622 16TH STREE C. N.W.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138
P.02
F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries,
Mr. Chairman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the
House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international
concern of debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by
Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen
for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these' funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.03/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Leahy:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Mr. Senator, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the House
of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international concern of
debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by Congresswoman
Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen for the above
mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in correcting this
situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern Eurobean countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.04/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Sonny Callaban
Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Export Financing and Related Programs
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Mr. Chairman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the
House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international
concern of debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by
Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen
for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and MET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.05/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Export Financing and Related Programs
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Pelosi:
We, the Ambassaders of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of leading officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Madam Congresswoman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13,
2000 the House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of
international concern of debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment
offered by Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds
foreseen for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:44pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.06/06 F-804
2
We thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this important matter.
We commend you for all you have done and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Barlets
Mr. Petrit Bushati
Ambassador of Albania
Physicitical
Mr. Philip Dimitrov
Ambassador of Bulgaria
Sans be I Mr. Alexandr Vondra
Ambassador of the
Czech Republic
spares Mr. Sven Jurgenson
Ambassador of Estonia
Janes R Mr. Geza Jeszenszky
Ambassador of Hungary
than Mr. Aivis Ronis
Ambassador of Latvia
Mr. Stasys Sakalauskas
Ambassador of Lithuania
Neopoules Mr. Goce Georgievski
Charge d'Affaires a.i.
of Macedonia
PeremssInw Genohiwl Mr. Przemyslaw Grudzinski Ambassador of Poland
W. Cearus
Mr. Mircea Dan Geoana
Ambassador of Romania
Martin Britore
Mr. Martin Butora
Ambassador of Slovakia
Dellie Win Mr.
Davorin Kracun
Ambassador of Slovenia
Sep-25-00 04:50pm
From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-141 P.01/06 F-807
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
WASHINGTON, D.C.
VAŠINGTONAS
Tony, 9/26 this letter was sent to
Wo number see if of state September people er 25, - 2000 are I'll answering. check
we should ausiver in any case.
Mr. Anothony Blinken
CLEGISL tells the enoney - will
Special Assistant to the President
Senior Director for European Affairs
National Security Council
Camison de restored can
Fax: (202) 456-9150
we shlu do
OK
L reply
Dear Jony,
Let the
know.
I want to bring to your attention a copy of the letter from twelve Ambassadors of Central
European countries to Senator Mitch McConnell regarding the funding for the Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET)
programs for the next year. Identical letters were also sent to Senator Patrick J. Leahy,
Congressman Sonny Callahan and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. As we spoke earlier, I
remain sure that the abolishment of the FMF program would have a negative impact on
the development of the U.S security-military relations with the Central and East
European countries. Furthermore, I believe you will agree that such a step by the
Congress will contradict the current policy of the U.S. Government.
I thank you for your consideration of this important issue. We look forward for your
continuous support and kindly ask you to use all possible means to help to correct this
situation.
Sincerely,
Stasys Sakalauskas
Ambassador
Enclose: letter, 2 pages
2622 16TH STREE Γ. N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009 202-234-5860 FAX
202-328-0466
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138
P.02
F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries,
Mr. Chairman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the
House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international
concern of debt relief adopred (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by
Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen
for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these' funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.03/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Leahy:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Mr. Senator, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the House
of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international concern of
debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by Congresswoman
Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen for the above
mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in correcting this
situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern Eurobean countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.04/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Sonny Callahan
Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Export Financing and Related Programs
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We, the Ambassadors of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of senior officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Mr. Chairman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13, 2000 the
House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of international
concern of debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment offered by
Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds foreseen
for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:43pm From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.05/06 F-804
September 19, 2000
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Export Financing and Related Programs
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Pelosi:
We, the Ambassaders of the Central and Eastern European countries, deeply
appreciate your continuous support for the funding of the Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for our
states. These programs have been of great value in our efforts to transform our military
forces in a way that enables them to cooperate with NATO forces in times of peace and
crises. Since it is an essential tool in furthering defense reforms, we believe that the
training of leading officers who are key to these reforms is an investment of multiple
returns. The programs substantially contribute to ensuring the long-term stability in our
region and send a very positive and reassuring message throughout Central and Eastern
Europe and the world of the commitment of the United States to the cause of full Euro-
Atlantic integration of our countries.
Madam Congresswoman, recently we were distressed to learn that on July 13,
2000 the House of Representatives while increasing the funding for the issue of
international concern of debt relief adopted (Rollcall Vote No. 397) the amendment
offered by Congresswoman Waters (Amendment No. 27), which uses the FY 2001 funds
foreseen for the above mentioned FMF and IMET programs. We look to you for help in
correcting this situation.
Accordingly, we request your intervention during the forthcoming Senate and
House Appropriations Conference in restoring the FMF and IMET funding for the
Central and Eastern European countries as originally reported in the Senate
Appropriations Foreign Operations Committee. We think these funds and the message
they convey are critical as we enter the new millennium.
Sep-25-00 04:44pm
From-EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA
2023280466
T-138 P.06/06 F-804
2
We thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this important matter.
We commend you for all you have done and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Barlets
Mr. Petrit Bushati
Ambassador of Albania
Mr. Philip Dimitrov
Ambassador of Bulgaria
Sans be Mr. Alexandr Vondra
Ambassador of the
Czech Republic
sparts Mr. Sven Jurgenson
Ambassador of Estonia
January R Mr. Geza Jeszenszky
Ambassador of Hungary
the Mr. Aivis Ronis
Ambassador of Latvia
Hialiams Mr. Stasys Sakalauskas
Ambassador of Lithuania
Neopoulis Mr. Goce Georgievski
Charge l'Affaires a.i.
of Macedonia
PeremssInw Genohiwl Mr. Przemyslaw Grudzinski Ambassador of Poland
W.
Mr. Mircea Dan Geoana
Ambassador of Romania
Martin Britore
Mr. Martin Butora
Ambassador of Slovakia
Dellie Win Mr. Davorin Kracun
Ambassador of Slovenia
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.10.17 Time: 21:54:06
Page 1 of 3
LITHUANIA COMMEMORATES HOLOCAUST IN MEMORIAL CONCERT AT D.C.
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER -- AMBASSADOR STASYS SAKALAUSKAS
(Extension of Remarks - October 10, 2000)
[Page: E1734] GPO's PDF
HON. TOM LANTOS
in the House of Representatives
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2000
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, a few days ago the Embassy of Lithuania here in
Washington held a Memorial Concert honoring the victims of the Holocaust in Lithuania.
The event here was held in connection with the government of Lithuania's designation of
September 23 as a National Mourning Day for Holocaust Victims in Lithuania. That date
was chosen, Mr. Speaker, because on September 23, 1943, all of the Jews remaining in
the Vilnius ghetto were killed by the Nazi forces occupying Lithuania at that time.
Because of the press of Congressional business, I was not able to attend the Memorial
Concert, but my wife Annette was there and made remarks in my behalf. I want to
recognize Ambassador Stasys Sakalauskas for hosting this important event here in
Washington to remember the Holocaust victims in Lithuania, and I want to acknowledge
the effort of the Lithuanian government for establishing this national day of mourning for
Holocaust victims. In Lithuania, 95% of the pre-war Jewish community of approximately
220,000 perished in the Holocaust. In fact, some say that no other nation lost a larger
percentage of its Jewish population. Before World War II, Vilnius--` the Jerusalem of the
North'--was an impressive cultural and intellectual center of Jewish life. After the war,
almost all Jews were gone and everything was destroyed.
Mr. Speaker, my wife and I have been to Lithuania many times. Last January, we visited
the beautiful forest at Panarai, where serenity and peace now stand in stark contrast to the
unimaginable horrors that took place in that killing field during World War II. We also
visited the KGB museum, where we laid a wreath at the memorial for the martyrs, not
just as a protocol procedure or diplomatic gesture, but as a deeply felt tribute to the many
men and women who gave their lives for freedom and independence. As Hungarian
Holocaust survivors, we both have lived under Communist and Fascist governments, as
well as democratic ones, so we both identify emotionally and personally with many of the
triumphs and tragedies of Lithuania's national past.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to report to my colleagues that Lithuania has made
significant progress since its independence a decade ago in remembering and making
restitution for the horrors of the Holocaust. I welcome the many positive steps that the
government of Lithuania has taken.
Mr. Speaker, at the Memorial Concert here in Washington D.C., just a few days ago,
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.10.17 Time: 21:54:06
Page 2 of 3
Ambassador Sakalauskas made particularly appropriate remarks. I ask that his statement
be place in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to give thoughtful attention to his
comments and to the progress that Lithuania has made.
AMBASSADOR STASYS SAKALAUSKAS
Ladies and Gentlemen, first, I want to thank you all for joining us at this first joint event with the
District of Columbia Jewish Community Center. I take this opportunity to express my deep
appreciation to the leadership of the Jewish Community Center for co-sponsoring this event. We
are gathered here today for a very special, meaningful and sad occasion--the 23rd of September
1943, when the Vilnius Ghetto was liquidated in Nazi-occupied Lithuania. In Lithuania, this day
is a national day for mourning, and since 1993, the 23rd of September is marked as Lithuania's
national day for the commemoration of victims of the Holocaust.
The absolute majority of the 220,000 strong pre-war Jewish community-colorful, flourishing,
full of joy and sorrows--vanished in Nazi-occupied Lithuania. It is shameful that the hands of
local collaborators were marked with the blood of innocent children, elderly women and men--
people killed because they were Jews. No words are enough to express the pain of the
immeasurable loss, and we understand that. At the same time we pay our highest respect to those
citizens, who despite the threat of death to themselves and their families saved their Jewish
neighbors.
Emerging 10 years ago from the Soviet and Nazi occupations, Lithuania has gone through an
awakening of consciousness and conscience. We, individually, and as a people, made mistakes.
But the fact we recognize our mistakes and try to do everything to correct them is encouraging
and shows our resolve to do better. We are committed to continue the investigation and
prosecution of persons suspected in collaboration with Nazi Germany and participation in the
mass murders of innocent people.
One accused war criminal died yesterday. We did a lot to bring Aleksandras Lileikis to justice,
even resorting to amending the Lithuanian criminal code. He was already on trial, but,
unfortunately, we were late to give him a verdict. Today the Office of the Prosecutor General of
Lithuania has expressed its regret that due to the defendant's death the course of justice was
obstructed. At the same time the Prosecutor strongly pledged to continue the work of bringing to
justice other alleged war criminals.
We in Lithuania are committed to examine our history. The Lithuanian historical commission
has a mandate from His Excellency Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania, to investigate what
happened in Lithuania almost 60 years ago and make it public no matter how painful it is. We
have to come to terms with our past. We will continue the discussion that went on for the last 50
years in most European countries and in the United States, but was missing in Lithuania due to
the Soviet occupation.
Our future depends on providing all our children the truth, and knowledge of the most horrible
crimes committed in the 20th century. Therefore, we are committed to continue our efforts
towards Holocaust education, remembrance and research and to implement to the fullest possible
extent the National Holocaust Education program, as a vehicle of preventing injustice,
discrimination and extremism.
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.10.17 Time: 21:54:06
Page 3 of 3
We will stay alert and recognize early signs of extremism and we will continue to combat
racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. We are committed to secure for the small remaining
Lithuanian Jewish community all the possibilities to develop and cherish its ethnic culture,
education, traditions. Lithuania must once again be built as an open society and a mature
democracy where the people of different cultures and traditions would be always united by
mutual sympathy, respect and understanding.
Next week Vilnius will host a major International Forum on Holocaust-era looted cultural assets.
We see the Vilnius Forum as another important step in paying tribute to the lost Jewish
community. We cannot re-write our past. What we can do is to put forth every effort to make
sure that horrors like those are never forgotten and never happen again on the Earth.
Now, I would like to ask everyone to stand up and honor those who perished with a minute of
silence.
From: Embassy of Lithuania To: Richard B. Norland
Date: 2000.10.16 Time: 22:36:24
Page 1 of 1
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS AMBASADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
VAŠINGTONAS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
News Release
Contact: Rolandas Kacinskas
October 16, 2000
Phone: (202) 234-5860 X 21
The results of the election to the Parliament
Washington, D.C - Yesterday, the Central Electoral Committee
announced the official results of the general parliamentary
election that took place in Lithuania on October 8. 141 members
were elected to the Seimas (Parliament). The turnout at the
election was 56.15 percent of all registered voters. 71 candidates
were elected to the Seimas in single mandate constituencies and 70
candidates were elected proportionally according to a popular vote
by party lists that had crossed a threshold of five percent. About
700 candidates have run for election in single mandate
constituencies. The following are final results:
Political party
Proportional
Individual
Total
(pct)
(seats)
(seats)
Algirdas Brazauskas' Social
31.08
28
23
51
Democratic Coalition
Liberal Union
17.25
16
18
34
New Union (Social Liberals)
19.64
18
11
29
Homeland Union (Lithuanian
8.62
8
1
9
Conservatives)
The rest of the parties have won 4 or less seats.
The new Parliament will convene for its first sitting on October
19. In accordance with the Constitution, the President of Lithuania
has to submit to the Seimas for consideration the candidature of a
new Prime Minister within 15 days after the Seimas election. The
new Prime Minister, within 15 days of being appointed, has to
present the Government which he or she has formed and which has
been approved by the President of the Republic to the Seimas and
has to submit the program of its activities to the Seimas for
consideration. A new Government will be empowered to act after the
Seimas approves its program by majority vote of the Seimas members
participating in the sitting.
The new cabinet is expected to be formed by the Liberal Union and
New Union that signed a coalition agreement on October 12.
Valdas Adamkus, the President of Lithuania, has not yet nominated
his candidate for the Prime Minister.
After consultations with the representatives of four leading
parties of the new Seimas, the President stated that the goals of
country's foreign policy - integration into the European Union and
NATO - would remain unchanged.
2622 16ᵀᴴ STREET, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009 - PHONE 202/ 234-5860 FAX 202/ 328-0466
E-MAIL: [email protected]
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Thursday, September 28, 2000 3:34 PM
To:
Blinken, Antony J. (EUR); Cables; Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
Subject:
THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY IN LITHUANIAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE
OCTOBER 8 ELECTIONS
ActionAddees:
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2211
Classification:
CONFIDENTIAL
DateTime:
281450Z SEP 00
Distribution:
SIT: Blinken NSC Davidson Norland
DECLASSIFIED
Identifier:
M4650864
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
PER E.O. 13526
InfoAddees:
Line1:
PAACZYUW RUEHVLA2671 2721450-CCCC--RHEHAAX.
2016. 0384- M (1.40)
Line2:
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
KBH 6/23/2023
Line3:
P 281450Z SEP 00
Line4:
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
Originator:
AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
Precedence:
PRIORITY
Profiles:
BLINKENA
CABLES
DAVIDSOL
NORLANDR
StationRoutinglndicator: RUEHVL
StationSerialNumber:
2671
TimeOfReceipt:
09/28/2000 15:33:09 ET
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 04 VILNIUS 002671
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2010
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NATO, MARR, LH
SUBJECT: THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY IN
LITHUANIAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE OCTOBER 8
ELECTIONS
REF: A) VILNIUS 2310; B) USNATO 1893
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT, REASONS
1.5 B AND D
1. (U) SUMMARY: A FUNDAMENTAL THEME IN ALL OF
THE AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL MEETINGS WITH
LITHUANIAN POLITICAL LEADERS HAS BEEN WHETHER
OR NOT LITHUANIA WILL DEVIATE FROM THE THREE
PILLARS OF ITS FOREIGN POLICY -- NATO
MEMBERSHIP, EU MEMBERSHIP, AND GOOD NEIGHBORLY
RELATIONS - AFTER THE OCTOBER 8 ELECTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND ALL
OPPOSITION FIGURES HAVE STRESSED THAT THEY
EXPECT CONTINUITY ON STRATEGIC GOALS. SEIMAS
CHAIRMAN LANDSBERGIS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS
RAISING THE ALARM THAT RUSSIA IS WORKING BEHIND
THE SCENES TO PREVENT LITHUANIA FROM JOINING
NATO AND INTEGRATING INTO THE WEST LANDSBERGIS
ALSO ALLEGES THAT RUSSIA IS FUNDING BOTH
LEFTIST PARTIES AND RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS IN
ORDER TO RUIN LITHUANIA'S REPUTATION. END
SUMMARY
2. (e) PRESIDENT ASKS LANDSBERGIS TO STOP HIS
1
"RADICAL RHETORIC"; CALLS TOGETHER POLITICAL
LEADERS TO REAFFIRM GOL FOREIGN POLICY GOALS
(e) PRESIDENT ADAMKUS WAS so CONCERNED ABOUT
LANDSBERGIS' ACCUSATIONS THAT THE LEFTIST
PARTIES WILL BRING TO POWER A PRO-RUSSIAN
COALITION, THAT HE (ADAMKUS) PUBLICLY DENOUNCED
IT AS EXTREMIST RHETORIC THAT COULD CAUSE HARM
TO LITHUANIA'S REPUTATION. AT THE SAME TIME,
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MANEUVERING PUBLICLY AND
BEHIND THE SCENES FOR MONTHS TO ENSURE THAT THE
NEXT GOVERNMENT ADHERES TO THE GOL'S OFT-STATED
STRATEGIC FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. RECENTLY,
PRESIDENT ADAMKUS BROUGHT TOGETHER LEADERS OF
SEVERAL MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS
LITHUANIA'S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. THE
POLITIC RIVALRY AND PERSONAL ANTIPATHY LEAD TO
A VERY CONTENTIOUS MEETING, AND DID NOT
ACCOMPLISH WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD HOPED FOR,
PROBABLY A JOINT STATEMENT OF POLICY.
3. (C) PRESIDENT EXPRESSES UNEASE ABOUT
ELECTIONS
(C)
DURING A MEETING WITH EPA REGIONAL REPS ON
SEPTEMBER 13 ATTENDED BY EMBOFF, PRESIDENT
ADAMKUS REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO THE GOL'S
FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. PRESIDENT ADAMKUS
BEGAN BY ADMITTING THAT HE WAS "A LITTLE
SCARED" ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. HE HOPED
THE POLITICAL PENDULUM WOULD NOT SWING TO ANY
EXTREME, AND THAT INSTEAD THE ELECTIONS WOULD
BRING A CONSTRUCTIVE COALITION TO OFFICE.
PRESIDENT ADAMKUS NOTED THAT SOME OF THE
LEADING POLITICIANS WERE PUBLICLY TAKING
POSITIONS THAT WERE "QUESTIONABLE", AND THAT HE
HOPED THAT THE NEXT GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT FALL
INTO THE TRAP OF FOLLOWING POPULIST PROGRAMS
THAT WERE NOT IN LITHUANIA'S LONG-TERM
INTEREST. SPECIFICALLY HE WAS CONCERNED WITH
THE POSITIONS OF SOME PARTIES ON EU AND NATO
ACCESSION. THE PRESIDENT STATED THAT HE HAD
DECIDED TO SUMMON THE PARTY LEADERS TO STRESS
HIS FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES, AND THE NEED FOR
CONTINUITY. HE SAID THAT HE TOLD THE PARTY
LEADERS THAT EU AND NATO ACCESSION WERE
"UNTOUCHABLE" AND COULD NOT BE QUESTIONED. HE
SAID HE WOULD FIGHT WITH ALL THE POWER OF HIS
OFFICE TO PREVENT ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE
FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. THE PRESIDENT
THOUGHT THE PARTY LEADERS UNDERSTOOD HIS
POSITION, AND LEFT THE MEETING COMMITTED TO
SUPPORT HIS (AND THE GOL'S) FOREIGN POLICY
POSITIONS.
4. (C) PM TAKES WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE TOWARD
OPPOSITION
(C) PRIME MINISTER KUBILIUS TOLD AMBASSADOR
THAT ALL MAJOR PARTIES HAVE DECLARED THAT THEY
FULLY SUPPORT NATO AND EU MEMBERSHIP FOR
2
LITHUANIA. NOW THEY MUST PROVE THAT THEY MEAN
IT. KUBILIUS ADDED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT "THE
APPEAL OF POPULIST RHETORIC MAY BE LIMITED."
THE PM ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE DID NOT
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 02 OF 04 VILNIUS 002671
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2010
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NATO, MARR, LH
SUBJECT: THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY IN
LITHUANIAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE OCTOBER 8
ELECTIONS
EXPECT THERE TO BE ANY PROBLEMS WITH FOREIGN
INVESTMENT IN THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, WHICHEVER
PARTY WINS. (NOTE: KUBILIUS HAS BEEN
LANDSBERGIS' TRUSTED RIGHT-HAND MAN IN THE
CONSERVATIVE PARTY FOR MANY YEARS, BUT, UNLIKE
HIS MENTOR, IS NOT KNOWN FOR RUSSIA-BASHING.)
5. (C) LANDSBERGIS SEES RUSSIA'S HAND BEHIND
LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS
(e) THE PM'S RESERVE IN ATTACKING OPPONENTS TO
THE LEFT CONTRASTED SHARPLY WITH THOSE OF
CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER, SEIMAS SPEAKER
LANDSBERGIS. LANDSBERGIS TOLD AMBASSADOR
FLATLY THAT THE LEFTIST COALITION (LITHUANIAN
DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATS),
PAULAUSKAS' NEW UNION PARTY, AND EVEN THE NEO-
NAZI GROUP LEAD BY MURZA, ARE FUNDED BY RUSSIAN
MONEY. LANDSBERGIS SAID THAT THE LEFTIST
COALITION LED BY BRAZAUSKAS AND PAULAUSKAS' NEW
UNION WERE MAKING A SHOW OF COMPETING WITH EACH
OTHER, BUT ARE ACTUALLY JUST MANEUVERING AS A
WAY TO TAKE MORE VOTES FROM THE CENTER.
LANDSBERGIS ACCUSED PAULAUSKAS OF COMPROMISING
THE VERY IDEA OF LITHUANIAN ARMED FORCES AND OF
CAMPAIGNING USING ANTI-NATO, POPULIST
ARGUMENTS.
(C) LANDSBERGIS BELIEVES THAT THOSE WHO PROMOTE
ANTI-FOREIGNER EXTREMISM IN LITHUANIA TODAY
(E.G. NEO-NAZIS AND SUSTAUSKAS, MAYOR OF
KAUNAS) ARE PAID PROVOCATEURS PLAYING ON THE
FEARS OF A NAIVE POPULACE WHICH IS LOOKING FOR
SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS. (HE
NOTED THAT ANTI-FOREIGNER RHETORIC,
SUSPICIOUSLY, ALWAYS SEEMS TO MEAN ANTI-
WESTERN, NOT ANTI- RUSSIAN.) LANDSBERGIS
ASSERTED THAT THE NEO-NAZIS OF SIAULIAI HAVE
ADVISORS WHO ARE EX-KGB. THE APPEARANCE OF
"HAIDER-LIKE" EXTREMISM IN LITHUANIA, ACCORDING
TO LANDSBERGIS, IS MEANT TO COMPROMISE
LITHUANIA IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD.
LANDSBERGIS ASSERTED THAT SUSTAUSKAS IS A
"RABBLE-ROUSING, ANTI-SEMITIC CLOWN" WHO COULD
BECOME DANGEROUS IF HE IS NOT STOPPED EARLY.
LANDSBERGIS BELIEVES THAT KAUNAS, AN EARLIER
BASTION OF NATIONALISM AND THE INDEPENDENCE
MOVEMENT, WAS "TAKEN OVER" WITH THE HELP OF
MONEY FROM LITHUANIAN-RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN
VICTOR USPASKICH (A KEY BACKER OF PAULAUSKAS.)
SUMMING UP, LANDSBERGIS WARNED THAT AMERICANS
3
DON'T REALIZE THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
PROBLEMS FACED BY LITHUANIANS, HOW NEAR THE
RUSSIANS ARE, AND HOW THE RUSSIANS ARE TRYING
TO RECAPTURE THE BALTICS.
6. (e) CENTER BLOC (PAULAUSKAS, PAKSAS, OZOLAS)
PLEDGE TO SUPPORT NATO AND EU MEMBERSHIP
(C) AS NOTED IN REFTELS, ARTURAS PAULAUSKAS
AFFIRMED TO AMBASSADOR TEFFT AND TO AMBASSADOR
VERSHBOW IN BRUSSELS THAT HE SUPPORTS NATO AND
EU MEMBERSHIP. HIS VISITS TO NATO AND EU IN
BRUSSELS WERE HIS WAY OF MAKING THE POINT AS
CONCRETE AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER PAULAUSKAS IS
STILL JUST LEARNING HIS WAY AROUND NATIONAL
SECURITY ISSUES.
(C) WHILE THE LEADER OF THE LITHUANIAN LIBERAL
UNION (LLU), VILNIUS MAYOR RONALDAS PAKSAS DID
NOT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CONTINUITY IN
GOL FOREIGN POLICY, HE DID MENTION THAT THE
CENTER BLOC (WHICH INCLUDES PAULAUSKAS' NEW
UNION, THE CENTER UNION PARTY, AND THE MODERN
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS) HAS AGREED ON A COMMON
PROGRAM. THE COMMON PROGRAM CLEARLY STATES
SUPPORT FOR NATO AND EU MEMBERSHIP.) PAKSAS
NOTED THAT EXTREMISM CAN CROP UP ANYWHERE, EVEN
IN DEVELOPED STATES SUCH AS AUSTRIA. EXTREMISM
IS NATURAL DURING A PERiOD OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS,
BUT IS NOT A SERIOUS THREAT IN LITHUANIA,
ACCORDING TO PAKSAS.
(C) CENTER UNION LEADER ROMUALDAS OZOLAS
AFFIRMED THAT HIS PARTY WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT LITHUANIA'S BASIC FOREIGN POLICY
PRIORITIES. HE NOTED THAT GOL DEFENSE SPENDING
MIGHT NOT REACH THE GOAL OF 2& IN 2001, BUT
THAT HE EXPECTED THE CENTER BLOC WOULD BE ABLE
TO COME CLOSER THAN THE CONSERVATIVES WOULD IN
REACHING THE 2& GOAL. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 03 OF 04 VILNIUS 002671
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2010
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NATO, MARR, LH
SUBJECT: THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY IN
LITHUANIAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE OCTOBER 8
ELECTIONS
CONSERVATIVES HAD FALLEN FAR SHORT OF THEIR
DEFENSE SPENDING GOALS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,
AND DESPITE THE CONSERVATIVES' HARSH CRITICISM
THAT OTHER PARTIES WOULD NOT REACH THE 2& GOAL,
WERE NOT ON TRACK TO MEET THE TARGET NEXT YEAR
EITHER. OZOLAS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CENTER
UNION WOULD CHANGE DEFENSE SPENDING PRIORITIES,
AWAY FROM SUCH THINGS AS "INTERIOR DESIGNER
BARRACKS," AS HE CALLED THEM.
7. (C)LEFTIST LEADERS INSIST THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT NATO MEMBERSHIP
(Q) LITHUANIAN DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY (LDDP)
4
LEADER CESLOVAS JURSENAS EMPHASIZED THAT THE
GOL HAS MAINTAINED A STEADY FOREIGN POLICY
COURSE OVER THE LAST DECADE WHEN LEADERSHIP
CHANGED HANDS BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT, AND WILL
DO so AGAIN AFTER THIS ELECTION. JURSENAS SAID
THAT THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION (WHICH
INCLUDES THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND
OTHERS) CHOSE FORMER PRESIDENT BRAZAUSKAS AS
THEIR CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER "AS A
GUARANTEE OF POLITICAL CONTINUITY." HE NOTED,
AS OTHERS HAD, THAT IT WAS EX-PRESIDENT
BRAZAUSKAS WHO SIGNED LITHUANIA'S 1994 REQUEST
TO JOIN NATO. JURSENAS DECLARED THAT HIS PARTY
IS PRAGMATIC, NOT EXTREMIST, AND THAT THE
POLICIES OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION ARE
BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SOCIALIST
INTERNATIONAL. HE CHARACTERIZED PAULAUSKAS'
POLICIES AS MORE LEFTIST THAN THOSE OF THE
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION HIS PARTY LEADS.
(e) FORMER PRESIDENT ALGIRDAS BRAZAUSKAS (LDDP
LEADER AND HEAD OF THE LEFTIST SOCIAL
DEMOCRATIC COALITION) ALSO OFFERED ASSURANCES
THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION
OF LITHUANIA'S FOREIGN POLICY, WHICH HAS BEEN
IN PLACE SINCE HE WAS PRESIDENT (1993-1998).
BRAZAUSKAS WAS HARSHLY CRITICAL OF THE
CONSERVATIVES' HANDLING OF FOREIGN POLICY, IN
PARTICULAR ITS INABILITY TO GET ALONG WITH
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. AS AN EXAMPLE, HE NOTED
THAT THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE NOT MANAGED TO
OBTAIN RATIFICATION OF THE BORDER TREATY WITH
RUSSIA. BRAZAUSKAS POINTED OUT THAT WHEN HIS
PARTY WAS IN GOVERNMENT IN 1993 THE RUSSIAN
MILITARY LEFT LITHUANIAN TERRITORY AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. WHILE LITHUANIA CANNOT CHOOSE ITS
NEIGHBORS, BRAZAUSKAS BELIEVED THAT THE SOCIAL
DEMOCRATIC COALITION WOULD BE BETTER AT
MAINTAINING STEADY PRAGMATIC RELATIONS WITH
RUSSIA AND BELARUS. BRAZAUSKAS COMPLAINED THAT
LANDSBERGIS WAS ALWAYS SAYING THAT LITHUANIA
WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE ARMS OF RUSSIA IF THE
LEFT RECEIVED A MAJORITY IN THE PARLIAMENT --
BUT THAT WAS NEVER TRUE IN THE PAST AND IS NOT
TRUE NOW. BRAZAUSKAS ASSERTED THAT HIS
COALITION IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE SAME
FOREIGN POLICY GOALS OF NATO AND EU MEMBERSHIP
AND GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS.
8. COMMENT:
(C) PRESIDENT ADAMKUS HAS STATED NUMEROUS
TIMES, BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY TO US, THAT
AS LONG AS HE IS PRESIDENT HE WILL DO
EVERYTHING IN HIS POWERS TO ENSURE THAT
LITHUANIA REMAINS ON COURSE FOR NATO AND EU
MEMBERSHIP. ADAMKUS POINTS OUT THAT
LITHUANIA'S CONSTITUTION CHARGES THE PRESIDENT
WITH FOREIGN POLICY AND HE INTENDS TO ACT AS
THE ULTIMATE GUARANTOR OF LITHUANIA'S FOREIGN
POLICY. THE PRESIDENT USED HIS MEETING WITH
THE POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS TO SEND THEM A
STRONG MESSAGE- THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK
5
ON THESE ISSUES.
(C) LANDSBERGIS FOCUS ON THE RUSSIANS IS
ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE, BUT NOT ENTIRELY
BASELESS. WHILE WE WOULD AGREE WITH HIM THAT
RUSSIA IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PRESERVE ITS
INFLUENCE IN THE BALTICS, WE ARE NOT CONVINCED
THAT LEFT AND CENTER-LEFT CANDIDATES ARE READY
TO SELL LITHUANIA DOWN THE RIVER. RUSSIAN
INFLUENCE IS HARD TO PIN DOWN. LANDSBERGIS,
FOR EXAMPLE, DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
RUSSIAN MONEY FROM RUSSIA (EITHER GOVERNMENT OR
"BUSINESS") FROM MONEY FROM ETHNIC RUSSIAN
LITHUANIANS SUCH AS USPASKICH. USPASKICH'S
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 04 OF 04 VILNIUS 002671
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2010
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NATO, MARR, LH
SUBJECT: THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY IN
LITHUANIAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE OCTOBER 8
ELECTIONS
REPUTATION AS A BUSINESSMAN INCLUDES CORRUPTION
AND STRONG-ARM TACTICS, BUT NOT ONE WHO DOES
MOSCOW'S BIDDING. LANDSBERGIS ESPECIALLY SEEMS
TO BE REACHING TOO FAR WHEN HE BLAMES RIGHT-
WING POPULISM ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE RUSSIANS.
(C) LANDSBERGIS ASSERTION THAT PAULAUSKAS AND
HIS OLD MENTOR BRAZAUSKAS WILL FORM A
COALITION, LEAVING THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
CENTER BLOC OUT IN THE COLD, IS RAPIDLY
BECOMING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM. PAULAUSKAS'
OSTENSIBLE COALITION PARTNERS, OZOLAS AND
PAKSAS, BOTH MENTIONED THAT PAULAUSKAS MAY OPT
FOR A COALITION WITH THE LEFT AFTER THE
ELECTIONS. THE ONLY PERSON WE HAVE MET WHO
DENIES THIS IS PAULAUSKAS HIMSELF.
(C) THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON PAULAUSKAS. HE IS
MAKING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SINCERE EFFORT TO
PROVE TO SKEPTICS THAT HE REALLY SUPPORTS NATO
AND THE EU. AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT THINK THAT
IF PAULAUSKAS OR THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC
COALITION COMES TO POWER, TOGETHER OR IN A
COALITION, THEY WOULD CHANGE LITHUANIA'S
FUNDAMENTAL FOREIGN POLICY GOALS. THE REAL
QUESTION IS -- WILL THEY DEDICATE THE RESOURCES
AND ENERGY NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS?
LITHUANIA'S PROGRESS TOWARDS THOSE GOALS MAY
COME MORE SLOWLY, BUT IS NOT LIKELY TO BE
REVERSED.
END COMMENT.
TEFFT
6
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Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
002. memo
re: Lithuania [partial] (2 pages)
09/06/2000
P1/b(1)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
European Affairs (Richard Norland)
OA/Box Number: 2630
FOLDER TITLE:
Lithuania [1]
2011-1038-F
kh1044
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Confidential
3.5(c)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Intelligence Memorandum
Office of Russian and European Analysis
6 September 2000
I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Lithuania: October Elections Likely to Set Back Western
Integration
3.5(c)
The populist center-left coalition projected to win the 8 October parliamentary
elections will probably stall Lithuanian efforts to meet NATO and EU membership
criteria in favor of increased social spending and concessions to farmers. The
Lithuanian economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, thanks to Prime
Minister Kubilius's commitment to fiscal discipline, but the anticipated positive
effects will be felt too late to benefit the reform-oriented ruling conservative
government.
3.5(c)
As the Lithuanian economy struggles to recover from the 1998
Russian financial crisis, there is widespread economic dissatisfaction
among Lithuanians-especially within the hard-hit rural electorate,
which accounts for approximately 40 percent of the population.
Lithuania, along with Latvia, began EU accession negotiations earlier
this year and has concluded five less controversial chapters of the 30
EU acquis, but EU pressure for the early closure of the Ignalina
nuclear power plant and sharp reductions in farmer subsidies have
dampened popular support for EU accession.
The leading center and leftist opposition leaders likely to take power
lack tight fiscal policy credentials and a coherent strategy for
western integration.
3.5(c)
Lithuania has made the most progress of the three Baltics in building fledgling
defense forces to meet minimum NATO interoperability standards, given its larger
population,
1.4(c)
and consistent efforts to
boost defense spending. A center-left government, however, will likely deemphasize
NATO integration and reallocate funds from defense to social programs.
This memorandum was prepared by the Office of Russian and European Analysis. Analysis is
indicated in bold italics. Comments and queries are welcome and may be directed to the
3.5(c)
DECLASSIFIED IN PART
3.5(c)
PER E. O. 13526
Confidential
2016-0384-M [1.41]
KBH 6/23/2023
Confidential
3.5(c)
The leading opposition party has centered its campaign platform
around reducing defense spending.
3.5(c)
Though Lithuania has maintained the most civil relations with Russia since
independence in 1991, Lithuanian-Russian relations have taken a recent downturn.
Criticism from both sides will likely intensify as the Lithuanian elections approach
and Lithuania moves closer to meeting NATO membership requirements.
1.4(c)
Lithuanian and neighboring Russian Kaliningrad Oblast officials,
however, remain committed to continuing border crime and transit
cooperation
1.4(c), 3.5(c)
2
Confidential
ROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE OPERATIONS CENTER
(WED) 10. 11'00 4:29/ST. 4:25/NO. 3700000148 P 9
CONFIDENTIAL
8
INR
Lithuania: Centrist Coalition Probable (U)
Dicr
President Adamkus yesterday asked former Prime Ministers
this is
Paulauskas and Paksas to form a centrist coalition following
Lithuania's October 8 elections, according to Embassy Vilnius. Former
President and ex-communist Brazauskas's Social Democratic bloc and
night good, ?
Paksas's center-right Liberal Union (LU) both did better than expected,
gaining 51 and 34 out of 141 parliamentary seats respectively;
Paulauskas's center-left New Union/Social Liberals (NU/SL) managed 29
CM
seats. As expected, the ruling conservatives took a beating, winning
only eight seats. Before the election, Adamkus and industrialists favored
a centrist coalition, and the NU/SL, LU, and Center Union had already
formed a loose bloc.
COMMENT: Despite a disappointing showing, the NU/SL holds the
key to forming a coalition and began talks with the LU and other
centrist parties on October 9. Such a coalition would be pro-
reform but also would be unstable in view of personality conflicts
and some contradictory goals. Foreign policy will remain on course,
however, because all party leaders want EU and NATO membership
and improved relations with Russia. Paulauskas supports a proposed
increase in defense spending to 2% of GDP but wants to delay it until
2002; 2000 defense spending will reach only about 1.7% owing to
difficult economic conditions. Economic reforms negotiated with the
IMF earlier this year will continue, especially because they are a
prerequisite for EU membership. (c)
(CONFIDENTIAL)
DECLASSIFIED
PER E.O. 13526
2016-0384-m (1.42)
KBM 4/23/2023
CONFIDENTIAL
October 11, 2000
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Tuesday, October 10, 2000 8:10 AM
To:
Babbitt, James F. (VP); Banbury, Anthony "Tony" N. (MULTI); Bolan, Christopher J. (VP);
Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Mclean, Matthew K. (MULTI); Naplan, Steven J. (MULTI); Norland,
Richard B. (EUR); Patten, Wendy L. (MULTI); Schwartz, Eric P. (MULTI); Shea, Dorothy C.
(MULTILAT); Smith, Peter D.R. (MULTI); Wilcox, Richard M. (MULTI); Yee, Hoyt B. (EUR)
Subject:
LITHUANIAN EX-COMMUNIST SLIPS FURTHER IN GOVT TALKS
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution:
SIT: BABBITT BANBURY BOLAN DAVIDSON MCLEAN NAPLAN NORLAND PATTEN
SCHWARTZ SHEA SMITHP WILCOX YEE
Identifier:
Re305f80
Originator:
Reuters
Precedence:
RUSH
TimeOfReceipt:
10/10/2000 08:09:14 ET
a1148
^BC-LITHUANIA-COALITION
^Lithuanian ex-Communist slips further in govt talks
By Andrius Vilkancas
VILNIUS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Ex-communist Algirdas Brazauskas,
who won Lithuania's weekend election but lost the scramble for government
partners, called for a broad coalition with his rivals on Tuesday but
faced a battle to get it.
His centrist rivals said they were confident they could scrape
together enough members of the new parliament from independents and
small parties to form a majority government without Brazauskas's Social
Democrats.
Brazauskas's leftist coalition topped the weekend general
election to gain 51 of parliament's 141 seats, but was outmanoeuvred
by second-place Liberals and third-ranked New Union -- both new political
forces.
The liberals secured 34 and the New Union 29 seats.
"The new political bloc has enough mandates to form the
leadership of the government and parliament and at this moment is not
considering any other variants and continues consultations among themselves,"
Arunas Daugela, New Union spokesman, told Reuters.
On Monday they had also gained tacit support from President
Valdas Adamkus, who must nominate any prime ministerial candidate, although
that usually happens after the new parliament convenes, which is expected
late next week.
President Valdas Adamkus's spokeswoman made it clear on Tuesday
he had not yet decided on a nominee. She said he would wait for the
end of coalition talks and for parties to name their own candidates.
Brazauskas's camp said the two new parties would be hard-
pressed to build a coalition that could stand the test of time, calling
on them to enter talks with the Social Democrats.
"The wisest decision would be to seek a wider coalition
and agreement," Kazimiera Prunskiene, a leading Social Democrat, told
reporters after a meeting with Adamkus.
Brazauskas and his second-placed rivals rode a wave of economic
discontent to sweep Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius's right-wing Homeland
Union out of power, but all three parties fell far shy of a parliamentary
majority.
The Liberals and New Union, who had a loose pre-election
partnership, said they were working on a formal coalition deal, although
any majority they build is likely to be razor thin.
If successful, they will have to form a government to fight
for European Union membership by 2005 and convince a recession-weary
1
public to stomach more sacrifice to make it possible.
Despite his communist past, Brazauskas, a 68-year-old who
was president from 1993 to 1998, has strong democratic credentials and,
like his rivals, strongly supports Lithuania's bids to join both the
EU and NATO.
RB-- 10/10/00 08:05:12
2
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09/21/2000
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COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Security Council
European Affairs (Richard Norland)
OA/Box Number: 2630
FOLDER TITLE:
Lithuania [1]
2011-1038-F
kh1044
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PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
SEP-21-2000 17:33 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.01/07
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Broadcast
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SEP-21-2000 17:34 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.02/07
4. State, NIS, Dawn Scalici, Anne Johnson, Ross Wilson
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2
SEP-21-2000 17:34 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.03/07
21 September 2000
Election Monitor - LT 00-001
ELECTION MONITOR:
FBIS
This report summarizes media items on the 8 October Lithuanian parliamentary
elections. The report was prepared together with FBIS partner and is For Official Use
Only.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Lithuanian parliamentary elections are scheduled for 8 October 2000. The Seimas, a
141-seat single-chamber legislature, will be elected for a term of four years.
Seventy MPs are elected from parties and blocs on a proportional representation basis,
and 71 MPs are elected in single-seat constituencies on a simple majority basis. On 8
October, elections to the Seimas will be held in 71 regional single-seat constituencies as
well as in one national proportional representation constituency. The number of voters
in each single-seat constituency may not exceed 5,000.
The Central Electoral Commission accepted nominations of candidates from parties and
individuals until 4 September. The number and complete lists of candidates were
officially announced on 8 September. Twenty-seven of the 39 eligible parties have
registered for the elections.
Coalitions may be formed of two or more parties. Sixteen out of the 27 parties running
in the current elections formed five coalitions by the closing date of 4 September.
The parties and coalitions registered for elections have nominated their candidates in
most of the 71 single-seat constituencies and have drawn up their party lists for the
proportional seats. Only four parties are running exclusively in singe-seat
constituencies. There are a total of 1,180 candidates on party lists and 700 candidates
in single-seat constituencies.
Several newly popular parties that have no or very few seats in parliament now will be
taking part in the election. Three of them - the New Union-Social Liberals, the
Lithuanian Liberal Union and the Lithuanian Farmers' Party - are the most serious
contenders for votes.
This report is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected foreign public media. It is issued
without coordination with other U.S. Government components.
SEP-21-2000 17:34 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.04/07
21 September 2000
Election Monitor - LT 00-001
This will be the fourth parliamentary election in Lithuania since the restoration of
independence (including the Reconstituent Seimas in 1990). About 2.6m people are
eligible to vote.
Proportional representation threshold
There is a threshold of 5 percent of the vote for parties and coalitions running under
proportional representation. Parties that win less than 5 percent of the total vote are
automatically eliminated. The remaining parties share the 70 seats in parliament
according to the proportion of the vote they have won. The seats won are filled with
the party's candidates starting from the top of its list.
If the same candidates that are on a party's list are also elected in single-seat
constituencies, they are considered elected in the majority vote. Their position on the
party list is taken by the subsequent candidate.
ELECTION RULES AND PROCEDURE
Campaigning in the media
Election campaigning officially begins a month before the election date, on 8
September. All the candidates and parties are given equal free access to state mass
media, notably Lithuanian radio and television, for campaigning. Each party list is
given no less than 1.5 hours of free air time by the national broadcasting company, and
each individual candidate is given no less than 5 minutes of Lithuanian TV air-time and
7 minutes of radio time.
Also, the Central Electoral Commission has the obligation to publish the parties'
election manifestos within 20 days of submission. Individual candidates' manifestos are
published by local electoral commissions no later than 15 days before the election date.
Campaigning in independent media is only limited by the campaign spending ceiling set
in the election law.
Any campaigning on the day of voting is forbidden.
[Some TV campaign videos are available on the Central Electoral Commission website:
http://www.lrs.lt/rinkimai/seimas2000/agit_tv.htm]
Campaign funding
All candidates and parties must open a special electoral account subject to the Central
Electoral Commission's approval. Individual candidates are not allowed to have more
than 50 average monthly salaries (50,000 litas) on the account, and party/coalition lists
are limited to 1,000 average monthly salaries (1m litas). Any surplus is automatically
This report is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected foreign public media. It is issued
without coordination with other U.S. Government components.
SEP-21-2000 17:34 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.05/07
21 September 2000
Election Monitor - LT 00-001
deducted to the state budget. Use of any other sources of funding for campaigning,
including free services or goods worth more than half an average monthly salary (500
litas) is forbidden.
The use of electoral account funds is subject to strict supervision by the State Tax
Inspectorate.
Conditions for being nominated as a candidate to the Seimas
Candidates must:
Be at least 25 years of age
Be a Lithuanian citizen and must have lived in Lithuania for at least a year before
the election date
Not be in military service or serving court sentences
Not be recognized by a court as mentally incapable
Not be a citizen of another state or have taken an oath of allegiance to another state
Not have collaborated with foreign secret services
Have no criminal record
Collect at least 1,000 signatures of supporters to be elected in single-seat
constituencies
Pay a deposit of one average salary (1,101 litas); Parties must pay a deposit of 10
average salaries (22,000 litas). Deposits are forfeited in the event of losing elections
Voting procedures
All Lithuanian citizens 18 years and over, except persons found by a court to be
mentally incapable, have the right to vote.
Voting cards are presented to voters by local election commissions in advance.
At the polling station, voters are given two ballots: one for the single-seat constituency
and another for the national proportional representation constituency. The ballot papers
contain instructions on how they should be filled out.
On the single-seat list, all candidates are listed in alphabetical order. On the list of
parties and coalitions, each has a number assigned by the Central Electoral
Commission.
Voting is individual and secret.
Election cost
This report is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected foreign public media. It is issued
without coordination with other U.S. Government components.
SEP-21-2000 17:35 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.06/07
21 September 2000
Election Monitor - LT 00-001
The election cost is estimated at 12m litas to be covered from municipal and state
budgets. A sum of 3m litas in planned election expenditure has been saved by
eliminating the second round of voting in single-seat constituencies.
Results
The Central Electoral Commission will announce preliminary results in a press release
as soon as it receives data from regional electoral commissions. The press release will
be published on the Internet. The media are not allowed to make any reports about
election results before the announcement is made.
Results are considered valid if the voter turnout is no less than 40 percent in single-seat
constituencies and no less than 25 percent in the national proportional representation
constituency.
Final results are announced by the Central Electoral Commission after investigating all
complaints. This must be done within seven days of the election date. The results may
be declared null and void if considerable irregularities are established and proven.
RECENT EVENTS
Runoff polls abolished in single-seat constituencies
The governing Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservatives have passed and enacted an
amendment to the law on elections, eliminating the second round of voting in single-
seat constituencies.
As a result, the winners will be those candidates who collect the largest percentage of
votes in the first round.
The president vetoed the bill, but the veto was overruled in parliament by the votes of
the governing majority in late July.
Photos of the Seimas building in Vilnius
Central Electoral Commission
This report is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected foreign public media. It is issued
without coordination with other U.S. Government components.
SEP-21-2000 17:35 FROM FBIS/RISD
TO WHSR DIRECTORS
P.07/07
21 September 2000
Election Monitor - LT 00-001
The Central Electoral Commission has a website where it provides information on the
candidates and on election results. The page is available in Lithuanian only.
All recent elections: www.lrs/rinkimai
2000 Seimas elections: www.lrs.1t/rinkimai/seimas2000/
List of parties and blocs: www.lrs.lt/cgi-
bin/ora7dbcgi/rinkimai/sql/seim/partsarl.htm?13
List of candidates in single-seat constituencies: www.lrs.lt/cgi-
bin/ora7dbcgi/rinkimai/sql/seim/kandapgsarl.htm?13
Symbol of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
This report is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected foreign public media. It is issued
without coordination with other U.S. Government components.
TRTAP0
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Thursday, October 05, 2000 6:50 AM
To:
Blinken, Antony J. (EUR); Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
Subject:
PENPIX OF MAIN LITHUANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution:
SIT: Blinken Davidson Norland
Identifier:
Rdc585f1
Originator:
Reuters
Precedence:
RUSH
TimeOfReceipt:
10/05/2000 06:49:26 ET
a0804
^BC-LITHUANIA-ELECTION-PENPIX
^Penpix of main Lithuanian political parties
VILNIUS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Penpix of main political parties
and coalitions running in Lithuania's general election on Sunday.
All of the main parties back Lithuania's bids to join the
European Union and NATO.
HOMELAND UNION
The biggest party in parliament. In power since 1996 under
the leadership of Parliament Speaker Vytautas Landsbergis, a hero of
the early 1990s struggle for independence from the Soviet Union. It
ousted the ex-Communist Democratic Labour Party in the last general
election.
After Andrius Kubilius took over as its prime minister late
last year amid a political and budgetary crisis the party has stood
for fiscal restraint and accelerated privatisation. It is expected to
lose the election by a wide margin.
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC COALITION
Led by former President and ex-Communist boss Algirdas Brazauskas,
who came out of retirement to cobble together the coalition made of
the Democratic Labour Party, the Social Democrats and two minor left-
wing parties.
Brazauskas is not running for parliament himself but has
said he would take the post of prime minister and form a government
of technocrats.
He pledges to proceed with reforms aimed at easing Lithuania's
way into the EU but is expected to slow down the privatisation process
as it opposes selling majority stakes in monopoly state utilities. Some
members of the coalition favour scrapping the current flat tax in favour
of a progressive system.
They see the New Union party as a potential partner in forming
a government.
NEW UNION
A centre-left party of populists founded by former top prosecutor
Arturas Paulauskas, who narrowly lost the 1998 presidential election.
The party says it will implement selective tax cuts, focus
on increasing domestic investment and use monetary policy as a tool
to boost exports. They also promise to earmark 10 percent of the state
budget to agriculture and offer other incentives to the sector.
The party has a loose partnership agreement with the Liberal
Union and Centre Union parties.
LIBERAL UNION
A group of laissez faire free-marketeers led by popular Vilnius
Mayor Rolandas Paksas, who was prime minister briefly last year as a
member of the Homeland Union. He resigned amid a controversial oil privatisati
on and defected to the Liberals.
The party, which has only one member of parliament, says
1
it would slash taxes and decentralise and streamline government. The
party sees any party from the centre to the right as a potential coalition
partner.
CENTRE UNION
Led by academic Romualdas Ozolas. The party's programme is
aimed at cutting red tape and other hindrances to businesses, scrapping
the profit tax for at least five years but is reluctant to sell controlling
stakes in state-owned monopolies to private investors.
FARMERS' PARTY
A group of Eurosceptics who unexpectedly placed second in
the spring municipal elections, they are seen picking up protest votes
from farmers still struggling under harsh market reforms.
They do not oppose EU membership outright but want entrance
to the 15-nation trading bloc to be 'gradual" with long transition
periods.
They want 10 percent of the national budget be earmarked
for agriculture, suggest tax breaks for energy and fuel used by farmers
and call for a re-introduction of subsidies, which were eliminated by
the current government.
RB-- 10/05/00 06:30:55
2
Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
From:
WHSR
Sent:
Thursday, October 05, 2000 6:34 AM
To:
Blinken, Antony J. (EUR); Davidson, Leslie K. (VP); Norland, Richard B. (EUR)
Subject:
FACT BOX-LITHUANIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution:
SIT: Blinken Davidson Norland
Identifier:
Rdc58360
Originator:
Reuters
Precedence:
RUSH
TimeOfReceipt:
10/05/2000 06:33:09 ET
a0802
^BC-LITHUANIA-ELECTION-FACTBOX
^FACT BOX-Lithuanian electoral system
VILNIUS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The following are key facts about
Lithuania's electoral system ahead of a parliamentary poll on Sunday.
ELECTORATE
- 2.6 million eligible voters (out of a population of 3.7
million).
ELECTIONS
- General parliamentary elections are held every four years.
Presidential elections every five years. President Valdas Adamkus, a
former U.S. citizen, was elected in January 1998.
PARLIAMENT
- The 141-seat unicameral house, or Seimas, is currently
dominated by the Homeland Union of Speaker Vytautas Landsbergis and
Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.
- Seventy seats are allocated proportionally according to
a popular vote by party list, 71 are decided by races between individual
candidates.
- To gain seats under the proportional list system, parties
must cross a threshold of five percent of the popular vote, coalitions
need seven percent.
- The votes of those parties and coalitions that do not cross
their thresholds are shared proportionally among those who do.
- At least 25 percent of eligible voters must cast ballots
to validate the proportional system.
- Forty percent of voters in each district are necessary
to validate the results of the individual, or single mandate, races.
CANDIDATES
- A total of 1,271 candidates are registered with 27 parties
in this year's election. A total of 702 candidates are contesting races
for individual races.
- There are 1,151 candidates from 15 parties and coalitions
contesting the proportional race. Many of those in the individual races
are also running on party lists.
MAIN PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT
- Homeland Union, 50 seats
- Centre Union, 17
- Democratic Labour Party, 13
- Christian Democratic Party, 10
- Social Democratic Party, 6
GOVERNMENT FORMATION
- The election commission must announce official results
within seven days of the election and Lithuanian president calls the
first session within 15 days of that, afterwards parliament may convene
on its own initiative.
- After the election the incumbent government must submit
1
its resignation to the president, who appoints a caretaker administration,
usually the resigning cabinet.
- Within 15 days of the government's resignation, the president
proposes a candidate for prime minister to be approved by parliament,
after which the president officially nominates him to be prime minister.
The premier-designate then presents his cabinet, after approval by president,
and his government programme for a parliamentary vote within 15 days.
RB-- 10/05/00 06:30:14
2