Zuokas proposes island retreat

VILNIUS - During the Enterprise Lithuania conference, Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas presented his idea of expanding Lithuania’s territory by establishing a 22nd Vilnius neighborhood on a Greek island in the Mediterranean, reports ELTA. Zuokas says that the island could be bought by private or corporate funding and registered as belonging to the Lithuanian government. This way, Lithuanians not only have an exclusive spot for recreation in the Mediterranean region, but it would also promote Lithuania’s name across the world.

“Back in the early 20th century, a famous Lithuanian geographer, Kazys Pakstas, said that Lithuanians needed to look for a safer place to settle. He suggested searching for a place that would be semi-autonomous from Lithuania and would become heaven on earth for us. At first, he chose Cuba; later on he wanted to embody his idea in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in Angola or Madagascar. The geographer Jakstas even had a name for his utopian colony - Dausuva. Why do we not put this idea into practice?” Zuokas said.

According to him, the island would cost around 7 million euros before negotiations, which could be covered by private persons or the corporate sector, which would be entitled to build on the island.

The mayor thinks that Lithuanian companies’ affiliates on the island could also enjoy EU funds for Greece; moreover, Lithuanian tourists would leave their money on a Lithuanian island, rather than in Turkish or Egyptian resorts.