VILNIUS - MPs voted in favor of setting up an ad hoc commission to investigate Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and determine whether he had ties with foreign special services.
Fifty-three MPs voted in favor and 12 against the proposal on Nov. 8. The composition of the commission was to be approved later in the week.
Commenting the decision, Valionis, who is currently on a visit to Romania, told the Baltic News Service that he was not going to ignore the commission's work and would answer all of its questions.
"I have already given a public reply to those weird questions. Still, I understand that there are certain parliamentary procedures, so I will answer again to any questions the parliamentary commission may have," Valionis said.
The parliamentary opposition proposed beginning the probe after seeing a TV show that implied Valionis might have had relations to foreign special services.
The foreign minister dismissed the allegations as absurd.
President Valdas Adamkus and Parliamentary Speaker Arturas Paulauskas criticized the proposal. The president has said he trusted Valionis, who has proved his loyalty to Lithuania through his work.
Earlier this year an ad hoc commission was formed to investigate Valionis' enlisting in the KGB reserve during the Soviet period. Other officials were also investigated. In March, Parliament approved the conclusions of the commission, which stated that Valionis and State Security Department director Arvydas Pocius had been enlisted in the KGB reserve as selective servicemen. The commission stated that neither Valionis nor Pocius posed a threat to national security.
