Lithuanian diplomat list to be revisited

VILNIUS (BNS) - The list of Lithuanian ambassadors is to be considerably reworked at the beginning of next year.

According to the daily Lietuvos Rytas, the post left behind by new Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, that of Lithuanian ambassador to Poland, is to be filled by the ministry secretary, former Ambassador to Russia Romualdas Kozyro-vicius.

The ambassador to Italy is to be former Governmental Reform and Municipalities Minister and former Deputy Foreign Minister Jonas Rudalevicius.

The daily reported candidates to the post of ambassador to Denmark, Norway and Estonia are former Defense Minister Ceslovas Stankevicius, adviser to Prime Ministers Andrius Kubilius and Rolandas Paksas on foreign affairs Deividas Matulionis, and Lithuanian Foreign Ministry legal and international agreements department director Darius Jurgelevicius.

It hasn't yet been determined which diplomat will be sent to which country.

The daily reported that Ambassador to Austria Ginte Damusyte will replace Linas Linkevicius, who has come back to his old job as defense minister, at Lithuania's NATO mission.

Viktoras Baublys, adviser to the foreign minister and former Lithuanian ambassador to Belarus, is a candidate for the posting in Vienna.

Lietuvos Rytas reported a candidate is being sought to replace Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States Stasys Sakalauskas.

Vygaudas Usackas, de-puty foreign minister and senior negotiator for accession negotiations with the EU, is considered qualified to represent Lithuania in the United States. Usackas, however, said he preferred to stay in Lithuania.

Conservative Emanuelis Zingeris, who failed to be re-elected to the new Parliament, may receive a special diplomatic assignment in New York. Zingeris, who was given the rank of ambassador for special assignments, wants to help foster a positive image of Lithuania while there.