Lithuanian PM makes time for tennis, not Statehood Day

VILNIUS - Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas says he did not attend thecommemoration of the Crowning of Mindaugas - the Statehood Day at S.Daukantas Square inVilniuson Sundaybecause he did not manage to prepare for it in time.

However, he made time to participate in a tennis tournament the same day.

"I had just returned from Americaand decided not to take part as I simply had no time to prepare," theprime minister said in with interview for the Lithuanian National Radio.

The Lithuanian TennisFederation confirmed that from 9 a.m.to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday, Kirkilasattended the tennis tournament Dubingiai Open that took place at the homesteadof basketball player Sarunas Marciulionis in Dubingiai.

At S.Daukantas Squarenext to the President's Office on Sunday, the national flag was raised and thepresident delivered his speech in the presence of Parliamentary SpeakerCeslovas Jursenas, ex-President Algirdas Brazauskas, however Kirkilas was notthere, although he usually attends state events.

At the finals of the Dubingiai Open VIP tournament, the Kirkilas, who waspaired with tennis player Danielius Lencina-Ribes lost to Sarunas Marciulionis,who played in pair with Gabriele Masiliute-Lencina.

The tournament was also attended by Lithuania'sAmbassador to Great Britain Vygaudas Usackas, diplomats from Russia'sembassy in Lithuania, Defense MinisterJuozas Olekas as well as members of the 1998 gold winning USSRbasketball team, and Arvydas Sabonis among them.