This month, the Lithuanian Government submitted an advance request to the European Commission and the European Central Bank asking to evaluate whether Lithuania is ready to introduce the euro in 2007. These days, Lithuania is trying to answer the Hamlet question: will we carry euros in the wallets next year or will we still keep to the litas? In fact, Lithuanians do not go out of their minds about the euro. Vice versa, the major part of the Lithuanian residents does not want to have a new European currency. The main reason is, probably, that all ruling powers that changed the national currency successfully made inroads. However, businessmen, educated and particularly young people who travel a lot want to see the euro as the Lithuanian currency. In any case, banks will earn 29 millions per year for changing the Lithuanian litas into the euro and vice versa.
On the other hand, it might happen so that the euro will not come to Lithuania at the beginning next year. While spending money, we have outgrown the inflation by one tenth of the inflation percent – according to the Maastrich Agreement, the inflation criterion should not be more than 1.5 percentage point compared to the annual inflation average of the three EU countries having the lowest annual inflation. Nevertheless, compared to the Estonians (4.1 percent) and our closest neighbours Latvians (6.9 percent) we are in a very good position. Other Lithuania’s macroeconomic indicators are also rather positive – specialist say that it is most important that the economic growth is well-balanced from the aspects of consumption, investment and export. The ill-fated one tenth has emerged mainly due to the external factors, i.e. rising prices of gas and oil.
Nevertheless, the high-standing EC official noted that not only political considerations but also economic indicators would be observed, meaning not making even the smallest allowances. Here, we unwillingly recall the 1990s when countries were admitted into the euro zone without any strict selections, moreover that the new EU Member States have their own economic and political peculiarities that could not be overcome in one day. Today, the litas is pegged to the euro this meaning that practically we already use the European currency here in Lithuania only do not feel that physically. On the other hand, this physical absence makes harm since it is accompanied by political and psychological consequences that should not be very difficult to be cited. By all means, we may be opposed that, let’s say, Czechs do not worry at all that they will be allowed to introduce the euro only after several years. However, the Czech Republic is a large country rich in far larger possibilities in coordination of its monetary policy.
Lithuania may face even larger problems regarding the same inflation percentage if Russia increases prices for gas and other energy resources. Bearing this in mind, a question arises – it might sound very rude but probably the Government could look for and find ways to reinforce the Maastricht criterion even on the account of the national budget?.
The euro introduction would also impact the clearly distorted real property market. So far, an opinion that after the New Year the same money will be paid for a flat only not in litas but in euro is alive in Lithuania. Such an attitude, also favourable lending conditions, income tax incentives, poor provision with real property have stimulated the significant growth of real property prices. However, much lower growth of GDP and construction costs, migration of residents clearly demonstrate that the real property market might experience shocks. Although today the prices have seemingly got stable and increase very little, no forecasts might be made when they will start going down. More clearance might be reached if it is not delayed with general and detailed plans, particularly in Vilnius and its environs. The Lithuanian Free Market Institute also proposes to start much stricter review of some positions regarding changing the land purpose.
Nonetheless, the largest trouble and misunderstandings are evoked by passing half-and-half decisions. The government has not resolved to impose taxes on the real property of residents, although, strange as it might seem, the society, except for separate groups, was rather good-willing and understanding in accepting the future tax. Finally, instead of taxation of the whole property of residents, a decision was passed to impose taxes only on property used for commercial purposes, calculating the tax from the market value. This decision caused the dissatisfaction among businessmen owning real property objects in more convenient places, although this should not be the case – if one uses well-developed infrastructure, better social and economic environment one earns more money and so must pay larger taxes. By the way, the editorial of our journal is also established in the central part of Vilnius. So in this case, the government has grounded arms. Lately, the information has reached us that certain privileges will be applied, a transition period will be set for the tax tariff and municipalities will be issued with permission to reduce taxes. However, the most important thing is that the absence of the overall taxation of real property not only gives ground for abuse (that is inevitable in cases of half-and-half decisions) but also brings confusion into the real property market. The Šnipiškės shantytown in the centre of Vilnius would have probably already changed its facade if only the owners of shacks were obliged to pay a more serious real property tax. Stability doesn’t always mean progress, does it?

Speaking about physical education and sports, traditionally three major fields of activity are distinguished: development of physical education and sports, training of high mastership sportsmen, and construction and renovation of sports centres. The year that has just started is not an exception and the above-mentioned three fields of activity will be among our top priorities.
Today, thinking about the replacement of the best Lithuanian sportsmen, we see that sport of schoolchildren and all citizens is becoming more important than sports of high mastership. Sportsmen of the Lithuanian Olympic team show good results at different games, are among the medal winners in Olympic sport branches in European and World championships. The goal we are raising today is to have a team of 60 sportsmen at the summer Olympic Games as we would not be able to give enough financing for a larger team. A centralized system for preparation of sportsmen for summer and winter Olympics has been developed; two new programmes targeted to preparation of the young generation for future Olympic games have been initiated.
Nice sports far all traditions are being developed and various sports events are organized in Lithuania. One of them, the annual sports for all festival arranged on the last weekend of May in Palanga welcomes around 5000-6000 sports enthusiasts. However, our major task remains to encourage young people to develop habits of active way of life. For this purpose, a new project has been launched – Olympic festival of the Lithuanian schoolchildren. The festival holds the goal to reach every child and therefore its programme includes all sports branches and competitions that are accessible to schoolchildren. Young people already compete in their cities and settlements and they do so not only in sports but also in art contests on the Olympic thematics. On 3 June we will invite the best young sportsmen to the final festival in Vilnius. It is very important that the President of Lithuania H. E. Valdas Adamkus has agreed to be a patron of this festival. I think that the Olympic festival has a huge potential and will become a traditional event in the future. If we succeed in practically realizing other newly-born ideas, like rewarding schools, especially rural, for active sports activities with sports presents (for instance, balls), arranging sports fields with artificial covering near secondary schools, schoolchildren will become even more interested in making sports.
The basis for the development of physical education and sports is good sports centres. In recent years, a significant progress has been made in this field. City and district mayors have understood that sports may be an efficient tool in solving social issues and are showing initiative in making large investment into renovation and construction of sports centres. In this we expect that the situation will change and good conditions for people going into sports and becoming more active sports fans will be created. Furthermore, sports competitions are very popular events attracting crowds of people to the Lithuania Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and other games.
Six sports objects in Lithuania have been awarded a status of national importance and this means that their construction will be financed from the EU structural funds. The first project – construction of the multi-functional Aukštabalis complex in Šiauliai - has already been launched. Among the new projects are planning a rehabilitation and sports centre in Druskininkai, expansion of the Lithuanian Winter Sports Centre in Ignalina, construction of a national stadium in Vilnius by 2009.
Modern sports centres will give even larger possibilities for arranging world and European championships in Lithuania, making sports much more popular among Lithuanians. We have already been awarded a right to host the European Men Basketball Championship in 2011, are discussing a possibility of arranging world sports games – large-scale sports competition of non-Olympic sports branches - in 2013 in Šiauliai that should also attract many tourists from all over the world.

This year, the Vilnius city municipal enterprise Vilniaus planas celebrates its 10th anniversary. The preparation of the new General Plan of Vilnius City was launched in 1996. The reason was that the old plan prepared under the conditions of centrally-governed economics could not solve the majority of territorial problems in the capital city of an independent state. It was decided to establish the municipality company SĮ Vilniaus planas and task it to prepare a conceptual strategic document that should form the strategy for the development of city territories and infrastructure meeting the rapidly-changing situation in the city. From the first day, Vilniaus planas prepared project proposals, special plans, schemes, programmes for the development of separate parts of the city.
The General Plan of Vilnius City was prepared in 1998. The major goal of this plan is optimize the social, economic and territorial development of the capital city until 2015, giving particular attention to the first stage until 2005.The General Plan provides for sustainable development of Vilnius and envisages the regulation of economic activity not only through using the potential but also preserving the main nature and cultural heritage values in the city. The chief architect of Vilniaus planas Mindaugas Pakalnis, “A multi-centre structure is intended to be realized in Vilnius. The city will have one main centre and four periphery centres in the directions of Ukmergė Street, Narbutas Street, Gariūnai and Naujoji Vilnia. These will be the centers where Vilnius residents will solve social and other problems, thus saving time that earlier was needed to find and reach institutions they needed.”
Creation of Vilnius City Vision until 2015 is one of the main results achieved by preparing the General Plan of Vilnius City. A special letter of acknowledgment was awarded to Vilniaus planas by Vilnius City Mayor for creation of the City Vision and strengthening the image of the city.
In 2001, the Strategic Plan of Vilnius City for 2002-2011 was prepared and approved by Vilnius City Municipality. The development of public transport in the city was set among its key priorities. SĮ Vilniaus planas prepared 14 transport projects to be implemented in Vilnius: 1. Organization of transport traffic in the approaches of Žaliasis Bridge; 2. Arrangement of multi-storey parking areas in Vilnius; 3. Arrangement of parking slot-machines in Vilnius; 4. Creation of standard project for bus stations and infrastructure in Vilnius City centre; 5. Programme project for arrangement of main city streets (facades, signboards, showcases) with the regulation and tender conditions; 6. Draft programme for strategic transport objects in Vilnius City until 2015; 7. Arrangement of public transport stations with newsagents and public telephones; 8. Aesthetic formation of main streets, preparation of a regulation; 9. Organization of traffic in territories along Ukmergė Street according to prepared projects (special plan); 10. Feasibility study for introduction of speed tram in Vilnius and its impact to existing public transport and car parking systems; 11. Transport scheme for a block between Gediminas Avenue and Vasario 16-osios, Kaštonų and A. Jakšto Streets; 12. Transport part in the project for regeneration of Vilnius Old Town (analysis of the exiting situation and most important proposals for traffic organization); 13. Reconstruction of Gediminas Avenue from Vasario 16-osios Street to the Cathedral Square. Transport organization scheme; 14. Žirmūnai Bridge across the River Neris in Vilnius. Correction of the reconstruction project.
The largest part of these projects have bee prepared and successfully implemented. SĮ Vilniaus planas Director Justinas Kulakauskas says, “All our works relate to activities of other companies established by the municipality: Vilniaus kapitalinė statyba, Susisiekimo paslaugos and departments within the municipality. We closely collaborate with them not only in making projects for separate territories of the city but also participate in implementing them. The enterprise actively participated in the EU pre-accession process. In 2003-2005, studies, applications and other project documentation for projects to be financed from the Cohesion Fund and European Regional Development Fund were prepared. Among such projects were construction of the lacking segment of IXB transport corridor – Vilnius Southern and Western bypasses, circuit around Vilnius Old Town, reconstruction of Darius ir Girėnas Street, construction of Geležinio Vilko Street up to the city boundaries. 0,30 billion litas needed for realization of construction projects will arrive from the EU funds. At the moment, we are in the process of preparing of a new Vilnius City Plan that will contain many transport infrastructure objects.”

A municipal enterprise Susisiekimo paslaugos was established in 1998 on the decision of the Vilnius City Council. Among its major activities are coordination of operation of all modes of public transport, control of passenger carriers by busses and trolley-busses, organizing production and distribution of tickets, passenger control, accumulation of income generated from sales of tickets, compensations and subsidies, settling accounts with carriers, creation and analysis of databases on passenger transportation in Vilnius city, preparation of normative acts and proposals how to improve them, collection of local parking fees, operation of multi-storey and underground parking areas and maintance of ticketing machines for car parking, together with the police blocking cars that violate parking rules.
In organizing public transport in Vilnius city, the enterprise also solves traffic problems common to the whole city. It has been for many years that Vilnius residents name traffic jams as one of the largest problems. The enterprise Susisiekimo paslaugos has been tasked by the Vilnius City Municipality to assist solving this sore issue. The Director of the enterprise Susisiekimo paslaugos Vaidotas Antanavičius says that introduction of an automatic system for traffic regulation with traffic-lights in Vilnius will start this year and hopefully will be fully operational in 2007. The new system will reduce traffic jams by 10-20 percent and help to register drivers breaking traffic rules. All traffic-lights in Vilnius city will be connected into one system, video-cameras will be put in many places and a Traffic Control Centre will be established in Tilto Street.
“The new system will be used to uninterruptedly monitor the transport system in Vilnius city, control it and inform drivers about traffic jams and accidents”, says Director of Susisiekimo paslaugos Vaidotas Antanavičius.
The project will be mainly targeted to significant improvement of traffic conditions in Vilnius city by arranging modern, EU standards meeting traffic control system that will consist of stationary speed measurers, renovated and new traffic-lights, reconstructed crossings. The project will also serve for opening a Traffic Control Centre, improving public transport information system, optimizing operational regime of traffic-lights through implementation of the “green wave” principle in the selected problematic street corridors, watching streets.
Vilnius is the first among the Baltic cities planning to introduce a modern system that will cost nearly 50 million litas. The new system will help to control and record drivers that neglect red traffic-light or speed.
In introducing the automated transport control system, new displays will be arranged to give information about free parking areas and speed limits on streets.
At the moment, there are 156 crossings in Vilnius, of which 50 percent have been renovated, others are regulated by 20-year-old traffic-lights. In implementing the project, about 1150 traffic-lights in Vilnius streets will have to be replaced. According to preliminary calculations, the economic efficiency of the new automated transport system could make 19 million litas each year. This is the amount that Vilnius residents lose per year when standing and consuming fuel in traffic jams.
Soon, the municipal enterprise Susisiekimo paslaugos will offer Vilnius residents one more novelty – e-ticket project initiated by Vilnius City Municipality. The project will be financed from EU funds and municipal budget. This year, three largest cities of Lithuania – Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda – will start introduction of a unified public transport e-ticket system. The especially quick development of e-services is being observed throughout the world with such leaders as the USA, Japan, Germany and Finland. In implementing the e-ticket project in Lithuania, the world tendencies and experiences of other countries will be taken in consideration.
After the new payment system is introduced, contactless smart cards will replace traditional paper single and monthly tickets. E-tickets will be sold not only at newsagent’s but also on the Internet, it will be also possible to buy them by SMS, on ATM’s, etc. Passengers who will buy tickets for longer periods will be offered a possibility to buy them on any day of the month, buy them for two or three months. Guests of the city or passengers who do not use public transport very often will still have a possibility to buy a single paper ticket from a bus or trolley-bus driver. E-ticketing systems are much more flexible, are protected from falsification, may be blocked in cases of stealing, so it is expected that the new system will help to improve the quality of public transport services and make them more attractive to passengers. As demonstrates the experience of other countries, the new ticketing system should greatly improve the image of the city, increase the number residents and guests using public transport services. The e-ticketing project is the first national e-services project that will enable to create multi-functional ID smart cards in the future. In the beginning, the card will serve as an e-ticket for public transport, while later it may become the city card, allowing to pay for parking, public utilities, giving discounts in supermarkets, become a permit to institutions, museums, libraries, etc. All these decisive measures of the city municipality little by little help Vilnius to join the family of modern European cities.

This year, the company UAB Vilniaus troleibusai will mark its 50th anniversary. The trolley-bus directorate was established in Vilnius on 4 October, 1956 and on 6 November the same year the first trolley-bus appeared on Vilnius streets. The then trolley-bus fleet consisted of eight MTB-82 type vehicles (seven trolley-busses transported passengers and one was left for reserve), though by its technical parameters the fleet could operate 25 trolley-buses.
Dear Jonas Bagdonavičius, what are the most important events in the history of the company that you head today?
– In 1960, Czech trolley-buses Škoda were introduced in the company. Firstly, we operated Škoda-8TR type trolley-busses, then followed Škoda-9TR. Škoda-14TR trolley-buses were delivered to the company in 1982 and are used until today. The first reconstruction of the trolley-bus fleet was done in 1961. At that time, the fleet was able to operate 120 trolley-buses. In 1981, the number of trolley-buses twice exceeded the projected capacity of the fleet, therefore a decision was passed to start the construction of the second fleet that was opened on 28 December, 1985 in Viršuliškės district. Its capacity allowed to operate 150 trolley-buses.
Each year from 1956 new trolley-bus routes were opened. There are 19 routes in Vilnius today; 259 out of 310 company-owned trolley-buses go along them every day. The company employs 1390 people, of which 650 are drivers.
How has the company progressed after Lithuania restored its independence?
– After reinstitution of Lithuania’s independence, we stopped buying trolleybuses what was earlier done with the help of the then Union institutions. For some time, the technical situation in the fleet was very bad due to the lack of finances. Such situation lasted until 1996 when the Vilnius City Municipality bought 30 new Czech trolley-buses. Next year, the fleet received another 30 trolley-buses.
In 2004, an agreement with the tender-winner, Polish company Solaris was concluded on buying 45 new-type low-floor trolley-buses.
Introduction of such trolley-buses in Vilnius is helping to realise a new conception – offering Vilnius residents nice and comfortable means of transport adapted for the disabled. New trolley-buses may transport 1.5 people more, although the inside seating still has to be arranged.
Five years ago, our company was indebted. The largest part of these debts has already been paid and in the long run we hope to pay them completely. A great help in achieving this goal will be the new Law on Public Transport setting new regulations for calculation of working hours, also the decision of the Vilnius City Municipality to compensate loss-making routes and privileges given to residents. For this reason, our company may buy new trolley-buses, repair and technically renew old vehicles. We are also improving work conditions in the company, like insulation of shops, reconstruction of dressing rooms and other premises.
UAB Vilniaus troleibusai has a proficient and well-organized team of specialists. So far we do not face the lack of drivers; the average monthly driver’s salary is 1700 litas. The company has a special school for training future trolley-bus drivers.
We may also boast of very stable staff – 600 people work with the company for over 20 years. The average age is 40 years.
What is the future of the company?
– We will undoubtedly have to solve many problems in the future, however trolley-buses are a promising, ecologic and comfortable means of transport. Public transport means not only interconnection but also helps to reduce rush hours in the city. This is the reason why many progressive countries of the world come back to public transport and trolley-buses.

Panevezys seeks to become a metropolitan city, integrated into the world, European and Lithuanian progress. It has a unique face recognized in the country and abroad. The city is the main North Eastern gates of Lithuania, a strategic node of logistics, the centre of national advanced technologies and industry. It is a capital of Aukštaitija ethnographic Region, attractive to business and investments.
Panevėžys is situated in the middle of Lithuania. It is halfway between two Baltic capitals - Vilnius and Riga. The city lies in a good geographical position which plays a major role in communication with other Lithuanian cities. The VIA BALTICA highway runs through the city and connects it to many Scandinavian and West European countries.
A favourable geographic position and a well developed transport infrastructure make good conditions for industry development and becoming a strategic logistics centre in the North East of Lithuania. The development of industry is also promoted by the possibility to reach the sea ports of Klaipėda and Kaliningrad by railway.
Panevėžys is starting in a new direction and aims to become the region's business leader. According to the GDP the county of Panevėžys is the fourth after the Counties of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda. It is the third after Vilnius and Klaipėda according to direct foreign investments for one inhabitant.
Modern infrastructure, high competence of workers of different fields, favourable legal environment for business makes perfect conditions for investing in Panevėžys. It was the second time that Panevėžys together with other cities of Lithuania participated in MIPIM 2006 exhibition in Cannes (France) where it presented 6 projects that received extremely huge attention of potential investors
Main investments
projects of Panevezys' city
Panevėžys Logistics and Industrial Park Objectives of the project: The attractiveness of the Panevėžys region for investors can be enhanced by development of industrial and Logistics Park with full infrastructure and communication systems. The project aims to improve the business environment by developing infrastructure for green field investment. Particular interest is attached to increase the role of Panevėžys as an important transport hub; facilitate the mobility of freight using various possibilities of interconnections between different transport modes; to establish and develop commercial connections between logistics center of Panevėžys and the network of logistics centers in the Baltic region.
Investment environment: Panevėžys is the centre of the county and covers 50 square kilometers. According to the number of inhabitants it is the fifth largest city in Lithuania with extra labour capacity. Favourable conditions to establish industrial companies, distribution centers and warehouses serving Baltic states and Russian market.
Infrastructure status: Communication system and engineering infrastructure needs to be developed. Total territorial area is 55 ha. Building potential for warehouses is 250 000 sq.m., for industrial premises - 200 000 sq.m. The total amount of investments needed is about 180 million EUR.
The project planning period is year 2006, construction period is 2007-2009.
BABILONAS.
City within the City
Objectives of the project: Stage I - implemented. A 30 000 sq. m. entertainment and shopping centre Babilonas I, occupying 7 ha site on city bypass, was opened in August 2005.
Stage II - under construction. A 3 000 sq. m. agricultural machinery trade and service centre anchored by Kesko Agro, occupying a 1.9 ha site a little away from Babilonas I shopping centre. First part of Car Retail and Service Square. Scheduled for October 2006. First part of residential area is under construction. Residential buildings are scheduled until 2009.
Stage III - Retail Park and household/DIY shopping centre, occupying a 10 ha site next to Babilonas I shopping centre. Scheduled for 2007.
Stage IV-other parts of “city within the city“ with separate sections named after famous cities of the world: second part of residential area; office buildings; recreation, hotels; entertainment such as casinos, cinema, restaurants, sports and water entertainment facilities, ice rink etc., manufacturing facilities etc. Completion of entire project planned for 2009.
Investment environment: Due to a favourable geographical position, Panevėžys, with approx. 3 mln. inhabitants within a 150 km. radius, provides good opportunities for business, trade expansion and other investments.
Infrastructure status: The site is located on one of the city's main streets. Convenient connection to Panevėžys' downtown. Developed engineering networks.
Territorial area occupies 53 ha, common area of buildings is more than 500 000 sq.m. Needed investments are more than 100 million EUR.
Planning period is different in separate sections. Stage I is finished, stage II- from 2006 till 2009, stages III and IV– from 2007 till 2009.
Panevezys Science
and Technology Park
Objectives of the project: Establishment of Panevėžys Science and Technology Park (STP).It will encourage the establishment of new small and medium-sized enterprises dealing with high technologies.
Investment environment: industrial companies have already invested into know-how development and personnel qualification. The project would extend the existing collaboration among industrial, scientific and educational institutions and bring it to a new level of quality . There is a huge possibility to develop applied research not only for Panevėžys region. Also there is a favourable background for mechatronics cluster, due to the strong scientific and technical potential of Panevėžys Institute of Kaunas Technological University (KTU) and strong electronics( JSC Ekranas), car and metal processing companies functioning
in the city.
Infrastructure status: Buildings (2200 sq.m) belong to Municipality, new ones will be constructed ( approx. 4400 sq.m).A 1 ha land plot surrounds buildings, it will be used for the expansion of Panevėžys STP in the future. Good connections with the city centre and VIA BALTICA. Engineering networks and parking area need to be expanded.
Project‘s feasibility study and technical project are under preparation (2004-2006). Construction period is 2006-2009. Needed investments approximately are 8-10 million EUR.
Sports and
Entertainment Centre
Objectives of the project: Creation of a new attraction centre in Panevėžys Region ensuring high quality entertainment and tourism products and services
Investment environment: Panevėžys Sports and Entertainment Centre will consist of a multifunctional sport arena (5,000 seats, 240 VIP seats; approx. 90 sports, music, trade events and 300,000 visitors per year expected), a health care centre with 25 meter long swimming pool, an ice palace (rink) and a drill hall (football is possible). A 250-metre long Olympic cycling track is planned to be arranged as one of exclusive elements of this complex. Panevėžys Sports and Entertainment Centre as a multifunctional sports complex was approved to be of national importance by Lithuanian government. The Panevėžys City Municipality will provide concessions for planning, construction, management, use and maintenance of the health centre, ice palace and drill hall up to the 25-30 years. The concession contract is already signed with private investor and operator for health centre center project. It is planned to attract EU and state capital for the construction of arena. A tender for the arena sub-operators will be available.
Infrastructure status: Development of infrastructure is planned. Expansion of nearby streets and construction of entrances to the centre from both is anticipated. Total territorial are is 47 ha, buildings‘area occupies 6,85 ha.
Investment: around 20 million EUR of the EU structural funds will be accessed by the municipal and state as means for the construction of the universal sports arena. The establishment of the health centre will require about 4 million EUR and about 3 million EUR will be needed to build the drill hall, while the construction of ice arena will cost about 2 million EUR”.
The period of carrying out the project is 2005-2008.
Siaurukas
(“A Sweet Narrow“)
Objectives of the project: to develop tourism infrastructure in the section of the historic Panevėžys-Rubikiai Narrow Gauge Railway.
The project aims at achieving both economic and social goals: increasing the tourism attractiveness of the Narrow Gauge Railway while preserving all immovable cultural valuables located in narrow gauge section, attracting higher tourist flows, increasing the revenues and the accessibility to the society.
Reconstruction of the narrow gauge railway complex, establishment of a culture, recreation and entertainment park nearby.
Stage of construction: feasibility study has been prepared. Study explained that the results of the financial-economic analysis allow suggesting that the project is financially viable and point to the significant benefits of the project for the economies of the region and the entire country
Investment environment: the Lithuanian Narrow Gauge Railway is the longest existing railway of its type in Europe. One can travel a distance of 68 km on tracks 75 mm in width. The complex of the narrow gauge which is over 105 years old consists of a railway, bridges, buildings, squares, water towers, water pumps and pulling equipment
Infrastructure status: good communication infrastructure by roads and by the Narrow Gauge Railway from Panevėžys to Anykščiai with the final stop at Lake Rubikiai. Communication system needs to be developed.
At present the application form for EU (ERPF) technical documents is almost ready. Technical documentation for reconstruction of the road of the Narrow Gauge Railway and the buildings of the road Panevėžys –Anykščiai (railway tracks, under tracks, railway stops and other restoration) will be prepared.
Territorial area is 68 km the Narrow Gauge Railway and the territory nearby railway.
Needed investments at stage I are about 5,3 million EUR, at stage II – about 7,7 million EUR.
Construction period is 2006-2010.
Leisure and Enter
tainment Centre
Objectives of the project: A complex providing best quality leisure and entertainment production and services.
Investment environment: The complex of leisure and entertainment centre is unique as it is located in the heart of the city of Panevėžys, on Senvagė slope- in the most beautiful area of the city.
It is one of the oldest buildings in Panevėžys from the architectural point of view. The building was built in XVIII century. It is a three storey building, whereas one storey is below the ground.
Various companies, which offer different entertainment areas or leisure time activities, are located in all three storey of the building. Starting with an ability to spend one‘s leisure time in museums or galleries, have wonderful lunch in the restaurants of the complex (restaurants are located in all storeys of the building), have an opportunity to stay for a longer period of time and accommodate oneself in the hotel located in the complex itself or indulge yourself in enjoying the wonderful nature of the inner yard of the complex.
The plans are to attract tourists from the entire Europe by this unique project, the exclusive architecture, which unites older building traditions and modern technologies, and concept.
Total territorial area is 0,64 ha, building potential is 8,000 sq.m. Investments needed are 8 million EUR.

Development of inland waterways infrastructure is one of the priorities in the General Planning Document (GPD) of the Republic of Lithuania. The European Union also bestows much attention to this branch. The GPD is intended for a long-term development of transport and transit strategies. By the year 2015 it is planned in Lithuania to create a modern multimodal transport system that, by its technical parameters and quality of service, will become an equal and integrated member within the European transport system. As such, it will create favourable conditions for the development of business, industry, agriculture and tourism in Lithuania and at the same time will effectively serve common interests of the EU.
The primary task of Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority (LIWA) is implementation of the Government program “Inland waterways' exploit and maintenance, sustention of mechanisms”. The programme is aimed at enhancing correlation of different types of transport and modernization of inland waterways traffic infrastructural network so that it meets technical standards and shipping requirements of the EU. The program of LIWA is pursuing governmental priority - to ensure development of public transport infrastructure.
In 2002 legal acts of Lithuanian inland waterways transport were fully regularized with the analogous legal acts of the EU.
Inland waterways in Lithuania
Lithuania has the total of 903 km inland waterways, of which 820 km are the waterways of national significance, 41 km – of local significance and 40 km - the perspective ones.
The main inland waterway in Lithuania goes along the River Nemunas and Curonian Lagoon from Kaunas to Klaipėda and is the inland waterway of international significance E-41.
The main inland waterway of national significance goes along the River Nemunas from Kaunas cargo port to the mouth of the River Atmata (215 km) and Curronian Lagoon (64.5 km). The list of inland waterways of national significance also includes: the River Nemunas from Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Station to the borderline with Belarus (265.4 km), the Mituva Channel from the river mouth to Jurbarkas cargo port (1 km), the River Minija from its mouth to Lankupiai (19 km), the River Neris from its mouth to Vilnius (165 km), the River Nevėžis from its mouth to Kėdainiai (27 km), and King Vilhelm Channel (22 km).
Inland waterways of local significance are river stretches of different length: Neris in Vilnius city, Skirvytė, Danė, Šyša, Galvė Lake and the Curonian Lagoon.
Perspective inland waterways include: Zarasai and Zarasaitis lakes;
Mouth of Jūra, – the bridge across Jūra along the road Jurbarkas-Mikytai – 7.0 km; Elektrėnai Pond.
Inland waterway Kaunas-Klaipėda (E-41)
Characteristics:
length – 259 km;
guarantee depth:
Kaunas-Jurbarkas – 1.20 m
Jurbarkas-Klaipėda – 1.50 m
permitted vessel width – 10 m, length – 100 m
navigation duration – 230 days per year.
International significance of inland waterways
Lithuanian inland waterway system via Kaliningrad and Polish inland waterways network is connected with the Western European inland waterways network (along the River Nemunas via the Motrosov Channel the waterway reaches Priegliai-Aistmares-Vitsula-Notec-Oder).
Along the River Nemunas via Belarus (Augustaw Channel) Lithuanian inland waterways are connected with the Polish inland waterways system.
Cargo shipping by inland waterways
The existing guarantee depths enables economical cargo shipping;
Due to convenient geographical location Kaunas city may become Lithuania's largest river port.
Will the River Nemunas be used for goods transportation?
Although importance and good perspectives of inland waterways transport is unquestionable, all attempts to relocate a larger part of freight flows to inland waterways shipping do not bring quick and tangible results.
In 2005 Lithuanian inland waterways were used for shipping soil-gravel, building materials and cargoes of non-standard dimensions.
Currently one of the most substantial cargoes could be shipping of containers and freights of non-standard dimensions by the River Nemunas and the Curonian Lagoon along the route Kaunas-Klaipėda. However, in 2005-2007 any major increase in transportation of cargos by inland waterways is unlikely to occur due to the fact that Kaunas has not got a cargo port of inland waterways, equipped with infrastructure for handling modern freights.
European inland waterways transport policy
European inland waterways transport policy is discussed in the White Paper European Transport Policy for 2010 – Time to Decide. This document refers to the existing “conflict” between different modes of transport and threats of growing congestion of auto and air transport on the main trans-European corridors as well as traffic- related ecological problems. It also stresses the necessity to regulate domination of separate modes of transport on the market, taking into greater consideration the alternative of inland waterway transport. To make inland waterways transport economically efficient and reliable, focus of attention should be laid on improving the quality of inland waterways: fairway cleaning of silt, its marking and other inland waterways maintenance works.
Passenger transport by inland waterways in Lithuania
During the navigation period of 2005 LIWA's motorboats carried over 6 thousand passengers.
Lately interest of Lithuanian residents in recreational inland navigation tends to increase. According to the latest data of the Inland Waterways Ship Register, there are 35 thousand small and recreational ships registered in Lithuania, and the number keeps growing. The main condition for this growth is development of inland navigation infrastructure.
Inland waterways development projects
The preparation of a feasibility study started in 2005, financed from EU structural funds and the state budget. The study will in detail cover all possibilities for creation of a unified inland waterways system in Lithuania from Kaunas to Klaipėda through complex arrangement of the waterway infrastructure, its adaptation for transportation of passengers and goods. The feasibility study will set priorities for inland waterways infrastructure development and creation. These works will be done in parallel with the modelling of the Nemunas riverbed, therefore even today it is easy to evaluate the possibilities for the development of infrastructure of this waterway and perspectives for its integration into the European Union inland waterways network. The study is planned to be finished by the 4th quarter of 2006.
International projects
The enlargement of the European Union completely changes the market situation in the Baltic Sea Region, the development of which is asking for a more effective integration of the inland waterway transport system. For this purpose an interregional project INTRASEA, financed by the EU, has been launched by the partners from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Russia and Lithuania. It is aimed at searching for an optimal relationship between community's ecological and economic interests, i.e. to develop and expand inland navigation and coordinate the planning of infrastructure network for the industry as well as for the tourism-industry in an environmentally friendly way.

By its geographic location, Lithuania is a transit country on the external EU border. Since 1 January 2005, only those animal-origin products that are allowed to be imported into the EU and which possess special veterinary certificates allowing their transit delivery across the EU and storage in the EU customs warehouses are permitted to be delivered by transit across the EU territory. Animal-origin products shall also hold veterinary certificates issued to a goods recipient. Specialists of the Border and Transport State Veterinary Service and 12 border veterinary points assume huge responsibility in exercising the control over the delivery of animals and animal-origin products following the EU legal acts and supervising that they would not be left in the EU territory.
The Head of the Border and Transport State Veterinary Service Donatas Jonauskas says, “In 2005, Lithuanian was the transit country for the delivery of 43432 consignments falling within the control of the State Food and Veterinary Service. Their weight totalled 1450802 tones, of which 2427 were poultry consignments (179268 tones), 5151 meat products (92289 tones), 1496 pork (46558 tones), 749 beef (21129 tones), 199 consignments of eggs for food (60,6 million eggs). The majority of transit cargoes were transported via Kybartai railway, Kybartai road and Panemunė road border veterinary posts, as well as Malkų įlankos, Molo and Pilies border veterinary posts established in Klaipėda State Seaport. Many of these transit cargoes were left for interim storage in customs warehouses, for instance 9699 consignments of animal-origin products were put in customs warehouses in 2005.
“It was established during the inspections that part of Russian carriers did not conform to the EU requirements. Thus 93 consignments of products (2992 tones) were intercepted and returned to senders: 62 consignments (2482 tones) in Kybartai railway border veterinary post, 28 (465 tones) in Kybartai road border veterinary post, 2 (35 tones) in Panemunė border veterinary post.”
Border veterinary control measures were used to ascertain illegal transit transportation of buffalo meat. During the investigation, fake veterinary certificates and products labels were established since transportation of these products across the EU territory is prohibited. 26 consignments were intercepted in the Klaipda Seaport last year that contained 703 tones of buffalo meat that was sent for destruction to the Rietavas plant for processing of secondary raw materials. Inconformity to veterinary requirements and expired realisation terms was the reason for destruction of 14 consignments of animal-origin in this enterprise in 2005, of which 8 consignments (70 tones) were Chinese pork, 3 – fish from Argentina, USA and Russia, 1 (3 tones) food by-products from the USA.
The significant decrease of import of goods subject to veterinary control was observed in 2005. For instance, 199542 tones of goods were imported in 2004 and 118305 tones in 2005. Last year, Lithuanian border veterinary posts inspected and issued permission to import 415 consignments (8207 tones) of animal-origin products intended for sale in other EU Member States. In 2005, the major imports of food products accounted to fish and fish products (1050 consignments or 25579 tones), mainly seafood, caviar, tinned fish, honey. Among non-food products lead imported animal hide, followed by non-food milk powder, technical casein, fish flour, animal-origin non-food products, bones, horns and poultry feathers.
Border veterinary posts also exercise the control of transported animals. Animals for commercial purposes are allowed to be transported only via Medininkai and Vilnius Airport border veterinary posts; transportation of pets for non-commercial purposes is permitted in all border control posts. In 2005, 332 horses were imported via Medininkai border veterinary post, of which 323 came from Belarus, 87 from Russia and 1 from the Ukraine. A consignment of 25 horses from Belarus was returned to the exporting country for the reason of violating animal welfare.
Lithuanian border veterinary posts take control not only of products imported into Lithuania. A part of imported products is further delivered to the EU Member States and Lithuanian border veterinary posts in performing transit, import and export procedures strictly observe requirements of the EU normative acts.

Kupiškis State Forest Enterprise administers an area of 33386 ha, forest land covering 30188 ha. State forests occupy 13583 ha. Forest coverage in Kupiškis District makes 27.1 percent. There are 5 forestries in the enterprise: Alizava, Kupiškis, Skapiškis, Subačius and Šimoniai. Every year regeneration is done in around 130-150 ha of state forests. Natural forest regeneration is among key priorities of the Kupiškis Enterprise. The prevailing tree species in Kupiškis forests are birch, spruce and pine.
How famous is the land of Kupiškis and what beauties of the nature does it boast?
– The songs of our land probably best prove our people to be kind-hearted. Wedding traditions existing in Kupiškis have been TV broadcasted not once. All places in Lithuania are beautiful, however we, like many, think our land to be the most, in any case not the least, beautiful. One of the nicest places in Kupiškis is the poets-glorified River Lėvuo. Torrential and full of unexpected loops, it begins in the western part of the Notigalė marsh, refreshes your soul and eye, attracts crowds of tourists. The river has been dammed at Kupiškis, the dam covering 824 ha. Pyvesa, the second largest river of the district, invites to admire its shrubbery-covered riversides, listen to unforgettable songs of nightingales and other birds. The River Šetekšna adorns the eastern part of the district. The largest lake is Notigalė and the district abounds in many more smaller or larger lakes. In general, our district is situated in wetlands, with abounding large marshes, swamps and bogs. These places are a real trap for wild animals. Legends say that even churches may be found sunken in marshes. Šepeta is the largest upper-type marsh producing boletus, other mushrooms and berries.
How large are reforestation, afforestation and felling volumes? Are there many cases of forest plundering recorded and what places need protection from wild animals?
– The scope of work is very large. Every year, Kupiškis State Forest Enterprise cuts and sells 43-44 thous. cubic meters of wood. These large cleared areas bust be newly planted with trees. Each year, regeneration works are done in 130-1250 ha of forest, afforestation – 20 ha.
Our forests abound in wild animals, like hind, lynx, wild boar, hare, fox and badger. Therefore it is natural that these animals that we protect make damage. Around 20-25 ha of artificially afforested areas are protected from wild animals per year. The work is not easy: we must fence large areas, buy and use chemical deterrents, etc.
Please tell in short about forest coverage development programme.
– It is no secret that during the years of occupations Lithuanian forests were nearly destroyed. After the World War II the Šimoniai forest hardly survived. Therefore today forest coverage development is one of priority activities and must be done at large scale. Illegal fellings are also among our major concerns. Lately we have noticed that their volumes have significantly decreased. We hope that this has been the result of introduction of preventive measures or, probably, people are becoming more disciplined.
The Programme on Increasing Forest Coverage in Lithuania approved by the order of the Ministers of Environment and Agriculture on 2 December 2002 provides for afforestation in our district of 65 ha every year in 2004-2006, and 92 ha in 2007-2020. In 2003-2005, afforestation was done in 134.7 ha of which 86.2 ha were planted by our enterprise. This year we plan to afforest 20 ha, private persons through EU financial aid – 76.3 ha. Implementation of this programme will help to increase forest coverage by 1.5 percent.
How large are protected areas and are there any recreational objects in Kupiškis District?
– There are 9 reserves in the territory administered by Kupiškis Forest Enterprise, all of them established to protect different types of objects, like nature and cultural landscape, relief forms, entrails of the earth, rocks, soil, etc. The main reserves are telmological (Notingalė, Kepurinė, Iženas and Sakoniai marshes) – 2639 ha, pedological (Vainiškis) – 98 ha, landscape (Lėvuo) – 1426 ha, geomorphological (Prūsgalė) – 280 ha, geological (Buožės) – 15 ha. All of them together occupy 4458 ha. Last year, the biosphere polygon in Šimoniai forest was established (2309 ha) to protect rare bird species, like black stork, lesser spotted eagle, etc. Protection, maintenance and control of these reserves demand lots of our time, patience and knowledge. We must do our work at the best so as not to give any ground for criticism and bring benefit to Lithuania's nature and people. 28 woodland key habitat sites in the area of 62 ha have been established in forests administered by Kupiškis State Forest Enterprise.
We, like any other forest enterprise, strive to offer tourists, holiday-makers or gatherers of berries and mushrooms easy to access and comfortable recreational objects. A cognitive path has been built, 10 camping sites and 49 rest places have been equipped in Kupiškis forests. The cognitive path in Šimoniai forestry has been awarded the 3rd place in the national competition of recreational objects.
Probably there does not exit a forest enterprise that avoids forest vandals who simply enjoy breaking picnic tables, benches or putting litterbins on fire. What is the situation in your enterprise?
– The situation has been very similar in our enterprise. I may only say that the number of these acts of vandalism has been smaller since our district is rather small and so fewer visitors come to forests. The situation has changed to the best recently, although we still and will have individual cases of vandalism.
In acceding the EU, Lithuania has assumed a commitment to produce 12 percent of energy from renewable resources. Please tell more about management of wood and felling waste suitable for production of biofuel.
– The issue of biofuel production from renewable resources is progressing very slowly in our district. Wetlands with prevailing temporarily soaked and marshy soil occupy very large areas and therefore the main felling waste is used to cover haulage tracks. Still, there are several cutting sites that may produce waste for future biofuel production. We generate about 2.5 thous. cubic meters of such raw material per year.
What could be said about forest fires?
– There isn't probably a more terrible shout like ”The house on fire?” – the house is everything you have, the roof above your head and a bed to rest. The same is with forest. “The forest on fire?” means that we are losing trees, shrubs, animals, birds, all living organisms and plants, i.e. everything that we have protected for many decades. To prevent such accidents, Kupiškis Forest Enterprise has built two fire-prevention towers in its forests and use them for watching forests of all types of ownership in the summer draught. The enterprise also has one fire-engine, main and additional well-equipped fire extinction teams. In case of a need, we invite the fire-prevention service of the district. So far, we have succeeded in avoiding large forest fires, moreover that we are situated in wetlands.
Let's speak about young forest lovers, their activities, future works and cherishing love for forests.
– Each of us remembers childhood and young days. It was the time when forests allured and invited although fairy-tales said them to be the place where the bad wolf was living. On the other hand, forests are the place where we may meet grey hare, pick mushrooms and berries… These are the values that so easily attract young forest lovers. Activities of young forest lovers started ion 1970. It was the time when the first educational forestry was founded in Skapiškis Secondary School. Today, Kupiškis State Forest Enterprise is the patron of 14 groups uniting over 200 young forest lovers. These groups have 13 teachers to supervise them and patrons in each forestry: two forestry officers, one deputy forestry officer and two forest guards.
Every year such traditional events are organized as the Earth Day in spring inviting to participate in contests and quiz-shows; rallies and camps in summer; saying good-bye to the old year in Christmas time with large fires and sports competitions.
Our district is famous for a member of honour of young forest lovers, former head of a young forest lovers club, Head of Culture and Education Division in Kupiškis District, forester Vidas Vilimas.
On 15 September 2000, in commemoration of the 140th birth anniversary of the famous forester, Professor Povilas Matulionis and the 25th anniversary of young forest lovers' movement, a head office of young forest lovers' movement was opened in Kupiškis, close to the Museum of Prof. P. Matulionis. The new club will serve the purpose of advocating the history of young forest lovers' movement, sharing the experience of young forest lovers' groups, clubs, educational forestries. Albums, files containing ministerial orders, resolutions and other documents, awards, prizes, posters, methodical information and audio records will be displayed in the head office as will be held meetings of young forest lovers and heads of groups.
A diligent and work-loving staff may move heaven and earth. What is the staff in Kupiškis State Forest Enterprise?
– The enterprise employs 35 people averagely aged 41,5. We are very happy that each year young and gifted specialists with higher or vocational education in forestry join our enterprise. We, in our turn, offer them excellent conditions for raising their skills or further continuing forestry studies. Every year, around 20 specialists participate in skill improvement courses arranged in Lithuania and foreign countries.
In conclusion, please tell in short about hunting in Kupiškis forests where, as you have already mentioned, one can find not only fallow-deer but also goat…
– So far we do not have fallow-deer gazing in our forests, however plan to release their herds from enclosures this year. When we say “goats” we mean roebucks. Beautiful horns of these graceful animals are a real trophy of the game, are very valuable and attract crowds of hunters.
Let me wish you success and thank for an interesting interview.

The traditional jazz festival arranged in Kaunas on April 26 – May 1 will again make Kaunas the jazz capital inviting jazz music lovers from Lithuania and the whole world. Having experienced long creative searches and experiments, this year the festival will come back to the time-tested traditions and authentic jazz forms. “Jazz will look for its self-expression”, mysteriously told the jazz ideologist, Artistic Director of the festival Jonas Jučas and so laconically described the conception of the 16th festival. This year, the festival is ready to welcome the most famous jazz players since the plans of the festival remain to be most ambitious – offering jazz lovers the best musical production of the jazz genre. Already the first day of the festival will introduce the famous jazz players – one of the most noted bigband players in Europe Henk Meutesgeert from the Netherlands will play in the hall of Vytautas the Great University accompanied by the Kaunas bigband that already holds reherals for the upcoming concert. The same evening people will be invited to the concert of the quartette of Richard Galliano Tangria, the best in the world French-origin accordion player. The next day, jazz lovers will have a wonderful possibility to listen to the trio of the organ virtuoso from the USA Joe DeFrancesco. Organizers of the festival are sure that concerts arranged on April 29-30 showing the singer Diane Reeves, holder of four Grammy Awards and the jazz legend, the trumpet player from Cuba Arturo Sandovali will be the most poplar. Festival organizers say that the arrival of these two players has greatly stimulated ticket sales – nearly all tickets have been sold to jazz lovers and regular Kaunas jazz guests from the neighboring and Nordic countries.
Jonas Jučas tells the journal Business and Exhibitions more about the plans of the festival: “We are happy to have found the niche both on the Lithuanian and world context. The festival has proved its international status and has become an important jazz attraction centre, also the leader in “importing” the best jazz players. We have successfully realized all our ambitious goals – last year the longest in the Lithuanian history festival that lasted eleven days and the first scientific jazz conference were organized. This year, we are planning to come back to the traditional format and rhythm. The festival will preserve the nice two-city - Vilnius-Kaunas tradition. The festival will traditionally start with festive opening in Kaunas City Hall and club concerts in the Kaunas restaurant Žemyn upe showing laureates of the Nome Jazz Competition arranged in Tallinn. I am the juror in this competition. It is a nice tradition that laureates of this and other twin festivals are offered a possibility to play in Kaunas Jazz festival where they can show themselves and test their skills in front of new audiences. In such a way, the doors are opened for new jazz talents and strengthening the spirit of solidarity and cooperation of the international jazz community. Among other events, a children's painting competition Kaunas Jazz ant grindinio (Kaunas Jazz on the Pavement) will be held in Vienybė Square. It is also a traditional event symbolizing the future of jazz and freedom of creation. The competition is also a good instrument for education a new jazz lovers' generation that will continue cherishing old values after we retire. The festival will end on May 1 with two concerts in Vilnius showing our regular friends and favorites of the audience duet Percadu from Israel. The concerts of this duet will continue the theme Žydroji tema džiaze that we started in Kaunas and will be arranged in Vilnius synagogue. The same time, Kaunas will traditionally listen to carillon bells that will accompany the festival to the horizons of history…
The unexpected discovery and talisman of freedom will be the debut of the Ukrainian group Er. J Orchestra. It is one of the most famous groups in the Ukraine that makes records in the British recording studios. Their original programme will also include motives of M. K. Čiurlionis works. The participation of the Ukrainian group in the Kaunas Jazz festival will symbolically reflect the philosophical idea of Freedom and is absolutely valuable from the artistic viewpoint. One more novelty of the festival will be the Greek group The B Bug. This arrival of the Mediterranean spirit will be accompanied by the Catalonian Llibert FortunyElectric Quintet that will enrich the Catalonian days of culture arranged in Kaunas. Among the exotic guests of the festival will be performers from Venezuela, Indonesia and India. Without any doubt, the famous Lithuanian jazz performers will perfectly join their foreign colleagues. The festival will be the place to hear the new and original projects of Petras Vyšniauskas, Kaunas Big band, Artūras Anusauskas, Egidijus Buožis, the group Saulės Kliošas, Julius Vilnonis and other performers.
We, the organizers, lay all our efforts to help the festival to maintain the colorful diversity of genres, its democratic and stylistically original character. We want each person to discover something dear and natural in jazz, while the jazz gourmands will we always offered the most delicious jazz “dishes”. I am very happy that the interest of business community in the festival is growing with every year. Business support is an instrument helping the festival to exist, grow and improve. I would very much like to say thank-you to the largest traditional sponsors – KRAFT Foods Lietuva, LNK, daily Lietuvos rytas, concern SBA, SEB Vilnius Bank, Repro Studio, daily Verslo žinios, and all other companies and people contributing to the promotion of jazz culture. On the other hand, it's a pity that participation of brewery companies that is traditional in foreign jazz festivals is not so active in Kaunas and Lithuania. Nevertheless, we hope that the guests of the Kaunas Jazz festival will still have a possibility to taste the best Lithuanian and Kaunas beer.

Space-Plane-Body, an exhibition of Lithuanian graphic art and sculpture, will be opened in the Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius on 31 March 2006.
This exhibition will continue the three-decades-old tradition of Lithuanian graphic artists– arranging large-scale exposition of graphic arts every three years. The project leader of the exhibition Space-Plane-Body is Nijolė Šaltenytė. The exhibition is planned to be the largest event of the Lithuanian Artists' Association this year.
The conception of the exhibition has slightly changed this year. The participants of the exhibition will try to show the huge diversity of graphic art: from engravings made in traditional technique to spatial graphic works. The exhibition will mainly consist of classical engravings – etchings, wood and flax fretworks (tutor Inga Dargužytė). Works made in digital technique will form a separate exposition (tutor Marius Mindaugas Danys). Space-Plane-Body will be the first exhibition that will so exhaustively present authors using modern technologies in their creation. The exposition of spatial grapic works (tutor Eglė Kuckaitė) and hand-made paper objects (tutor Elvyra Katalina Kriačiūnaitė) will impart attractiveness, playfulness and even some show elements to the exhibition.
70 artists of graphic art will participate in the exhibition Space-Plane-Body. Many of them work in the Vilnius Graphic Art Centre of the Lithuanian Artists' Association (Latako St. 3, tel.: (370 5) 2621995; grafcentras@mail.lt) and arrange exhibitions in the gallery Left-Right established in the centre. All those interested in the evolution of graphic art in Lithuania are invited to visit the Graphic Art Centre and exhibitions arranged in the gallery.

Sculptor Jonas Šimonėlis was born in 1955, in Nolėnai village of Utena district in Lithuania.
From 1973 to 1978 he studied in Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (present Kaunas Technological University). In 1995 he became a member of Lithuanian Artists' Union. Since 1997 he is a member of Irish Artists' Union.
Since 1992 Jonas Šimonėlis actively participates in exhibitions and symposiums in Lithuania, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Holland, South Korea and other countries. In 1999 Jonas Šimonėlis had won the first prize in the International exhibition that took place in Irish town of Claremore.
The galleries of above mentioned countries, as well as individual art connoisseurs and art collectors have purchased numerous works of the sculptor.
The history of sculptor's creative work is well reflected in his personal exhibitions:
In 1993 – open-air exhibition of granite sculptures in the courtyard of Artists Palace in Vilnius (present President's Office). From 1994 - permanent open-air exhibition on the territory of “Litexpo” Exhibition Hall. In 1996 - exhibitions arranged on the territories of “Karolina” Hotel and “Justė ir kompanija” in Vilnius. In 1997 – exhibition on the territory of the National gallery. In 1998 – exposition on the territory of Utena town. Since 2000 his works are exhibited in the open-air granite sculptures' exposition on the Santariškės Hospital territory in Vilnius.
In 2003, in Vilnius was arranged the first personal exhibition of his glass sculptures named “In the world of glass”.
The artist says: “During all these long years I got perfectly acquainted with granite and I know its possibilities… Therefore now I decided to become friends with the glass and to find new aspects of this friendship. There are many undiscovered things in the glass, such as the effects of playing lights that sometimes choke up the shape, also the shades and tones of the plastic and colors, as well as the particularities and possibilities of pasting technique…”

The painter Lilija Puipienė studied at State Institute of Fine Arts (today Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts) in 1979-1985. Since 1988 she gives lectures in painting and drawing at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. L. Puipienė joined the Lithuanian Artists' Association in 1995. The artist participates in exhibitions since 1986 and has exhibited her works in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Nida, St Petersburg, Kaliningrad (Russia), Werngerod (Germany), Paris (France), Boston (USA), Warsaw (Poland), Sardinia (Italy). Fiver personal exhibitions have been arranged in Lithuania. The artist no less actively partakes in plein-airs organized in Lithuania and neighbouring countries. Lilija Puipienė's works are found in museums, collections of art lovers and collectors in Lithuania, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Israel and other countries.
In still-lives of Lilija Puipienė simple things become emotional characters, enveloping us in homey cosines and warmth. One is captivated by a hint of a secret lurking under the visible nature in motives very important to the author. The plastic and romantic music of paintbrush's movement and emotional colours as well as the solo of a realistic motive little by little lead a viewer through a labyrinth of spiritual life. This is what evokes emotions and the harmony of a painting surrounded by sincerity is gradually becoming a part of the viewer's soul...

Born in 1959, in Šiauliai, Lithuania.
In 1982 graduated from Šiauliai Pedagogical University.
Since 1984 constantly participating in different exhibitions: National exhibitions, Baltic Young Artists, Triennial of Baltic Pictorial Art, various joint group exhibitions, etc.
Since 1990 – Member of Lithuanian Artists Union.
Arranged 9 personal exhibitions.
On these pages I present several works from my cycle “About the Childhood”.
Children came to my paintings spontaneously. I saw the first paintings in my dreams. There was a girl in the dreams. Why? It seamed that wishing to paint a child as a symbol one should paint a girl, and for painting a symbol of a mature person one should paint a man. Why? I do not know why. I have painted a lot of pictures where the main heroine was a girl – belike Alice from Wonderland. Alice is a code well understandable for all. Her childhood, like the childhood of each of us, is the time of miracles, when a day may last a year, and a night – just a wink, and Sandpit Generals burry their armies between the tiles of pavement, and Titanic drowns in a cup of tea, and a plank of floor turns a tiny bridge over a precipice, and a ticking clock counts not the time but the steps of a beetle from wall to wall – then everything begins and ends differently. Then ordinary everyday round and simple things in the eyes of child assume an unexpected, different – miraculous aspect. For the modern man it becomes more difficult to comprehend and find simple miracles. In the world of mature people it is natural to evaluate things in proportion with the size, weight or work-consuming efforts. However in childhood visions - a banknote or a currant leave, hair-slide or a castle tower, a dot or eternity – all exchange places and by reflection create a new meaning and sense.