Banker declines post

  • 1999-11-04
VILNIUS (BNS) - The head of the central Bank of Lithuania,
Reinoldijus Sarkinas, nixed an offer to become Lithuania's minister
of finance. He told president Valdas Adamkus by telephone that he
will not take up the post.

Many financial experts and influential politicians believe Sarkinas
to be a most fitting candidate for finance minister under the current
conditions. Adamkus, returning Monday from his trip to Canada, called
the head of the central bank asking if he would agree to occupy the
post.

"The head of the Bank of Lithuania turned down the offer,"
presidential press secretary Violeta Gaizauskaite said.

Sarkinas explained his reasons to journalists, saying he has already
been in politics once, and he will never return. In February 1995,
Sarkinas was minister of finance for one year under the Labor
Democratic Party's government.