Russian radicals staged a meeting in protest of President Valdas Adamkus' decision not to attend Moscow's May 9 celebration commemorating the end of WWII. The ultra-nationalist Russian Liberal Democrat Party's branch gathered outside the Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow on March 22. Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovski made a personal address to Adamkus during the hour-long meeting, which was attended by some 30 people. Banners included phrases such as "Baltic states, what do you need fascism for?" and "Do not forget you were liberated by the Soviet soldier!"
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who is currently visiting Vilnius, said she respected Adamkus' decision not to attend the celebration in Moscow on May 9. "I have been reading the statement of President Adamkus very carefully, and I appreciate it. It is a delicate decision," the EU commissioner said after a meeting with Adamkus on March 18.
MP Petras Grazulis declared a hunger strike on March 22 by way of demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and State Security Department Director Arvydas Pocius, who were enlisted in the KGB reserve during the Soviet era. "I demand that Pocius and Valionis resign, as it is obvious that they were enlisted in the KGB reserve. I think it is strange and intolerable that they hold high offices," Grazulis said. The MP said he was positive that both Pocius and Valionis would obey his demand to resign.
In a letter addressed to the country's Catholics, Lithuania's bishops wrote that they are short of priests. This is partly due to the fact that parishes and schools, prayer groups and Catholic fellowships, family circles and pilgrim organizations wished to have their own parsons. "Our hearts break, but we cannot satisfy all such requests 's there is a shortage of priests at all dioceses, in all areas of activity of the Church," the letter read. The bishops added that the shortage was caused by historical circumstances and the negative influence of contemporary society.
Three bodies were pulled from the rubble of a Karige furniture workshop in Kaunas, which burned to the ground early on March 21. Three workers were found injured, and one other worker is believed to the dead. Rescuers said that they would continue the search. The accident was reportedly caused by a workshop explosion.
Former Swedish Honorary Consul to Lithuania Leif Annermalm was killed in Klaipeda in unknown circumstances this week. Police reported that on March 22 a person had caught fire in an open field under unclear circumstances and that upon arrival police officers had used extinguishers to put out the flames, but they were too late. Officers said the man, whose car was found in Klaipeda, had most likely been murdered. Annermalm used to be the head of the Swedish Honorary Consulate in Klaipeda, which had been at his office at the Genciu Nafta company nearly five years ago. The consulate abandoned the premises last May.
