Lietuva in brief - 2011-12-15

At the Fourth United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Doha on Dec. 11-13, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgiryte Liauskiene encouraged the world community to focus on the promotion of tolerance and peaceful cohabitation among peoples, reports ELTA. Skaisgiryte Liauskiene stressed that the Alliance of Civilizations was a platform for the dialogue between people of different backgrounds and countries, which aimed to address political tensions, solve conflicts and promote peace around the world. “The dialogue between people of different backgrounds and religious traditions is the key to mutual understanding between the West and the Islamic world,” said the deputy minister. According to the deputy minister, the strengthening of gender equality and the enhancement of the situation of women in society should be an integral part of these processes. At the Forum, Skaisgiryte Liauskiene met with representatives from more than 20 countries. They discussed bilateral relations and the role of Lithuania in the United Nations and other international organizations.

Special Investigation Service (STT) has launched a pre-trial investigation into the activities of Kazimieras Ramonas, former head of the Credit Institutions Supervision Department at the Bank of Lithuania, reports ELTA. Ramonas was fired in late November. The governor of the Bank of Lithuania ordered that disciplinary action be taken against Ramonas, which includes dismissal for a severe infringement of labor discipline. Aldona Jociene, head of the Banking Inspection Unit, was appointed the acting director of the Credit Institutions Supervision Department. It was reported that Ramonas last year took part in the wedding of Edgaras Baranauskas, who is the son of Raimondas Baranauskas, head of the failed Snoras bank. Ramonas’ sister Judita Ramonaite and his daughter Ramona Laurinkiene were both employed in Snoras.