Date of birth

17 January 1958

Place of birth

Vilnius, Lithuania

Education

1990

Political and Economic Studies World Press Institute, Macalester College, St Paul, Minnesota, USA

1982–1989

Master’s in Journalism, Faculty of History, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University)

1976–1977

Journalism Studies, Faculty of History, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University); expelled on account of connections with the Lithuanian Helsinki Group

1964–1976

Antano Vienuolio Secondary School in Vilnius (currently Antano Vienuolio progimnazija (lower secondary school) and Vytauto Didžiojo gimnazija (upper secondary school))

Work experience

2001–2004

Director General, Translation, Documentation and Information Centre under the Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania

1993–1996

Manager, PR Consultative Centre Multum Creditum

1992–1993

Head, Information Analysis Unit, Office of the Supreme Council–Reconstituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

1990–1992

Spokesman, Supreme Council–Reconstituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

1989–1990

Reporter, Atgimimas, weekly of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sąjūdis

1979–1988

Editor and Journalist at the Lithuanian State Committee on Publishing Houses; Polygraphy and Book Trade; Lithuanian Scientific Methodological Cultural Centre; Lithuanian State Television and Radio Committee; and Lithuanian State Film Rent Bureau

Political career

Member, Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats

2020–2024

Member of the 13th Seimas

Deputy Chair, Committee on European Affairs

Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Head, Seimas Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Co-Chair, Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC)

2016–2020

Member of the 12th Seimas

Member, Committee on European Affairs

Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Constitutional Commission

2012–2016

Member of the 11th Seimas

Deputy Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Committee on European Affairs

2011

Chairperson-in-Office, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

2010–2012

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

2008–2012 

Member of the 10th Seimas

Member, Committee on European Affairs

Chair, Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Commission for Nuclear Energy

Head, Member, Seimas Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Deputy Head, Seimas Delegation to the Assembly of Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

2004–2008

Member of the 9th Seimas

Member, Committee on European Affairs

Deputy Chair, Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Commission for NATO Affairs

Member, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Since 1998

Member, Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats

1996–2000

Member of the 7th Seimas

Deputy Chair, Committee on European Affairs

Chair, Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Commission for Ethics and Procedures

Member, Commission for NATO Affairs

Member, Seimas Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Miscellaneous

Service in the Soviet Army (1977–1979)

Activities: President, Lithuanian and Great Britain Association British Chamber of Commerce (1998–2000); President, National Magazine Publishers’ Association (2001–2003); supporter of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group; member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (since 2015); member of the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters (since 2017); co-founder of the Center for Freedom and Democracy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

Awards: Third Class Order for Merits to the Republic of Ukraine (2007); Commemorative Badge on the occasion of the invitation for Lithuania to join NATO (2003); Commemorative Medal of 13 January (1999); Second Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of the Republic of Estonia (2013); Order of Honour for Service to the State of Georgia (2014); Third Class Badge of Distinction For Service to the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (2020)

Interests: foreign and European policy of Lithuania, national security and defence

Foreign languages: English and Russian

Hobbies

historical literature, gardening, alpine skiing, and angling

Family

Married with two daughters