This is the first issue of the newsletter which has replaced the periodical magazine Lithuanian Parliamentary Mirror published since 1997 (the last issue – No. 4 (152) and designed to inform English readers about the Seimas (Parliament of Lithuania). We believe that this new mean of communication will keep our readers more up to date.

                                                                                                                                  Public Relations Unit of the Communication Department
                                                                                                                                  of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS: LATVIA HAS PRESERVED ITS NATIONAL IDENTITY

On behalf of the Lithuanian Parliament, Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas, extends her congratulations to the citizens of the Republic of Latvia on preserving their constitutional right to the Latvian language, as the official state language, in the referendum held yesterday. The Speaker also emphasises the unique character of the sister language and its significance to preserving the Latvian national identity.

 Joint Statement of the Chairmen of the Committees on Foreign Affairs of the Parliaments of Estonia and Lithuania regarding the National Referendum of Latvia

SEIMAS AUTUMN SESSION CLOSED WITH THE ADOPTION OF DECISIONS ENSURING FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE STATE

The Seimas has concluded its 7th (autumn) session. As many as 55 plenary sittings (46 ordinary and 9 extraordinary ones) have been held, and 273 laws, 69 resolutions and 6 other legal acts have been adopted during the session, i.e., in the period between 10 September and 23 December 2011.

One of the main tasks of the Parliament – adoption of the state budget for 2012 has been successfully implemented.

ON 13 JANUARY 2012, THE DAY OF THE DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM, SERGEI KOVALEV, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, FIGHTER FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY RECEIVE THE FIRST FREEDOM PRIZE

MEP, former Chairman of the Supreme Council–Reconstitute Seimas  Prof.  Vytautas Landsbergis, Mrs Gražina Landsbergienė, Mrs  Alma Adamkienė, President Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Sergei Kovalev, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė,  Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, Mrs  Rasa Kubilienė, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius

Petras Auštrevičius, Irena Degutienė, Sergei Kovalev,

Veronika Povilionienė,  famous performer

of Lithuanian folk songs

Based on the decision of the Freedom Prize Commission, on 13 January 2012, the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, during the solemn commemoration at the March 11 Hall of the Seimas, Sergei Kovalev, human rights activist, fighter for freedom and democracy received the first Freedom Prize to be granted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

Speeches delivered at the Solemn Sitting to Commemorate the Day of the Defenders of Freedom 13 January 2012

·         Speech by Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas

·         Speech by Sergei Kovalev, Winner of the Freedom Prize

·         Speech by H.E. Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius

·         Speech by Chairman of the Freedom Prize Commission Mr Petras Auštrevičius

·         Speech by Mr. Robertas Povilaitis, Son of Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Defender of Freedom who was killed at the TV Tower on 13 January 1991

·         Speech by Mr Linas Kojala, student of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University

LITHUANIA IS READY TO SHARE ITS EXPERIENCE WITH TURKEY

Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met (on 12 January 2012) with Mr Egemen Bağiş, Minister for European Union Affairs of Turkey. The meeting focused on bilateral relations between Lithuania and Turkey, strengthening of economic cooperation, and Turkey’s aspirations to join the European Union.

The Speaker of the Seimas indicated that Lithuania was ready to share its experience with Turkey in implementing European reforms.  “We welcome the aspirations clearly expressed by the Turkish Government to continue the challenging political and economic reforms necessary for country’s membership of the EU.” The Speaker of the Seimas emphasised that economic cooperation between Lithuania and Turkey should be more intensive and not limited to tourism.

SPEAKER IRENA DEGUTIENĖ, “NATO IS THE GUARANTOR OF LITHUANIA’S SECURITY“

Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on his visit to Lithuania.

The Seimas Speaker underlined that NATO was the guarantor of Lithuania’s security, that politicians as well as the general public see a clear link between Lithuania’s membership of NATO and the final rooting of the independence of the Lithuanian state.

THE RESULTS OF THE POLISH PRESIDENCY AND THE PRIORITIES OF THE DANISH PRESIDENCY INTRODUCED

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Lithuania, Mr Janusz Skolimowski, introduced the Results of the Polish Presidency of and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr Jørgen Molde, mapped out the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the joint meeting of the Committee on European Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 20 January 2012.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE COMMITTEE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF AN NGO LOOKING INTO THE US RENDITION AND SECRET DETENTION PROGRAMME IN EASTERN EUROPE

Arvydas Anušauskas, Chairman of the National Security and Defence Committee, met (11 January 2012) with the representatives of the Constitution Project Task Force on Detainee Treatment tasked with drafting a study on the US Rendition and Secret Detention Programme run by the CIA in Eastern Europe.

STATE SECURITY DEPARTMENT BRIEFS THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY SECURITY

On 18 January 2012, the National Security and Defence Committee considered the information on energy security presented at the Committee meeting by the State Security Department.

Mr  Arvydas Anušauskas, Chairman of the Committee, claims that “the submitted information confirms the timeliness of the steps made during the past three years to implement the projects ensuring energy security.” The existence of mediators in power and gas supply, appearance of new ones, and their policies have a direct link with the political decisions made at the top decision-making levels in Russia, and nothing to do with market relations.