Lietuva in brief - 2012-10-18

President Dalia Grybauskaite presented letters of credence to Deividas Matulionis, Lithuanian Ambassador to Germany, president.lt reports. According to the President, Germany is one of the most important international partners of Lithuania. It is a founder state and important member of the European Union, therefore our bilateral cooperation becomes particularly significant in the light of Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency of the EU Council. Lithuania’s relationship with Germany is important for the implementation of the EU internal energy market policy and for the negotiations concerning the new financial framework of the European Union. Deividas Matulionis has served in Lithuania’s representations in Estonia, Norway and Denmark as well as in various departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2009, he was Chancellor to the Prime Minister.

“Latvian and Estonian national airlines have suffered considerable losses over the past few years and their future prospects seem unclear. A study carried out by the Lithuanian Transport Ministry several years ago showed that only a joint Baltic airline can be successful on such a small market as the Baltic States,” pointed out Masiulis. He urged Latvian and Estonian colleagues to renew discussions on the issue and conduct new calculations to see if a joint venture pays off. Latvia is currently looking for a strategic investor for the loss-making airBaltic. Estonia has also started discussions on the future of Estonian Air. Lithuanian and Latvian ministers also discussed setting up a joint postal company that would provide courier services. Lietuvos Pastas has already launched talks with Latvijas Pasts.