The government restored its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, as the two countries' permanent representatives to the United Nations signed a joint declaration on the restoration of diplomatic relations. Lithuanian-Afghan diplomatic ties were first established on April 27, 1933, after a Lithuanian-Afghan Friendship Agreement came into effect. The agreement, written in Lithuanian and Persian, was signed in Kaunas on Dec. 9, 1930, by then Foreign Minister Dovas Zaunius and Ambassador of the Royal Government of Afghanistan Sardar Mohammed Aziz Khan upon authorization of presidents Antanas Smetona and Afghan Padishah. The government approved the restoration of diplomatic ties on March 16.
Medical representatives spoke unanimously on April 2 in favor of holding a general strike, with a final decision to be made after health care employees are questioned. Aldona Baublyte, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Trade Union of Health Care Employees, said that the meeting, between the trade union and the Doctors' Union, had been attended by 90 people, all of whom spoke in favor of a strike. She said a poll would be conducted at health care institutions on April 8 's 10 and that a strike would be held on May 17 if the move is approved by two-thirds of those polled.
Lithuanian and Estonian mountaineers are preparing to climb one of the world's highest peaks 's Gasherbrum II in Pakistan. The Lithuanian department of physical education and sports has reported that Baltic mountaineers will try to climb the world's 14th highest and one of the highest summits of the Karakorum mountain range (8,035 meters) from July to August. The expedition will be led by Saulius Vilius, who has climbed Everest, and will be attended by four Lithuanians 's Eugenijus Simanauskas, Ramunas Alisauskas, Arturas Bazys, Darius Milasius 's and three Estonians 's Alar Sikk, Tarmo Riga, Priit Melnik.
Brother-and-sister magicians Arvydas and Diana (photo) Gaiciunai broke the world record for being encased in ice, enduring 63 hours and 31 minutes in a block of frozen water. On April 3, the magicians left the block of ice, built in Palanga, in which they had been encased since March 31. The siblings broke the record established by David Blaine in 2000 when the American spent more than 61 hours in a block of ice without food. Diana was the first woman to perform the stunt.
A group staged a picket near the Latvian Embassy, demanding the preservation of Russian-language schools. Officials reported that six people attended the half-hour long picket. No law violations were observed as pickets and events that are attended by a maximum of nine people do not require authorization.
