Lietuva in brief - 2004-09-22

The Labor Party is likely to triumph in the upcoming parliamentary election, according to a Vilmorus poll conducted Sept. 9 's 12, which showed that 26.2 percent of respondents would vote for the populist party. Second place would go to For Work For Lithuania's coalition of Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and Parliamentary Chairman Arturas Paulauskas at 16.4 percent. The coalition of Rolandas Paksas, who was impeached in April, was supported by 9.8 percent of the populace, putting it in third position.

Parliamentary committees on national security and defense and foreign affairs have approved President Valdas Adamkus' proposal to extend troop participation abroad until the end of 2005. The draft resolution, which has yet to receive the go-ahead from Parliament, stipulates sending up to 140 troops and civilians to the Balkan region, 120 to the Persian Gulf region and up to 70 to central and southern Asia. Parliament earlier returned the draft for revision, as it only stipulated an overall number of troops to be dispatched. About 200 Lithuanian troops currently serve in international peacekeeping missions.

Almost half of the population 's 49 percent 's do not expect any changes in their life in the near future, according to a RAIT poll. However, every third respondent (32.1 percent) believe that life would improve in the coming years. In addition, 0.8 percent expected considerable changes in their life, and 18.1 percent thought that their life would worsen in the coming years.

The Health Ministry said it would send its first shipment of aid to the children who suffered from the terrorist attack in Beslan on Sept. 26. The government has so far granted a total of 50,000 litas (14,400 euros) in aid to Beslan children. Specialists of the Health Ministry say that Lithuania is also ready to accept children in its rehabilitation centers and is awaiting a reply from Russia about its offer of assistance.

Official parliamentary events and new initiatives at Lithuanian schools will mark Jewish Genocide Day on Sept. 23. The Vilnius-based International Commission for Investigation of Crimes by Nazi and Soviet Occupational Regimes in Lithuania held a press conference on Sept. 20 to present the planned events. As the commission's executive director, Ronaldas Racinskas, said, "The usual focus used to be on official commemoration ceremonies, Parliamentary meetings, and flower laying, but they resemble ceremonies of duty. We want participants to understand and immortalize the meaning of this day." This year's ceremonies will be different in that 25 teachers attended special courses in Israel and a series of Vilnius seminars in preparation.

A masked robber broke into the Hansabankas office in Visaginas on Sept. 21, manhandled a bank employee and then stole almost 500,000 litas (145,000 euros) in various currencies. According to the press release, the masked robber got into the bank through an unlocked door. Police reported that a suspect has been arrested, though they refused to say whether the stolen money had been recovered.