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LITHUANIAN HIGHLIGHTS  Government Programme Diamonds and GewgawsENERGY Commercial Pragmatic Interests should DominateINTEGRATION Lithuania Going to the Schengen Area does not Refer to HearsaytAXES Income legally Earned in other Countries Will Not Be Subject for Double TaxationLAW&SOCIETY The Lithuanian Bar Strengthens Bilateral Cooperation SPORTS&ECONOMY Kaunas is Becoming The Capital of AthleticsHERITAGE What has Investigations in Dubingiai Showed?ART MARKET Will Laisvės Avenue be the centre of culture? sculptor Stasys Žirgulis My creation is devotion to one material, Živilė Bardzilauskaitė An idea is most important to me; I use painting and from to realize it Juris Bergins Simonas Skrabulis, It is in the process of creation when you understand that the environment is set aside, the new world overshadows the reality. Albinas Kavaliauskas, Leather is a subtle material, its language is moderate, it enchants by inexhaustible plastic possibilities EXlibris gives space for improvisation and experimenting Savinijus Katauskas
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GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME DIAMONDS AND GEWGAWS Rimantas Šlajus,
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 Finally, we are not orphans left alone in the open windy air Lithuania has a new, although minority, Government. We have been endangered not to have it at all and even premature elections to the Seimas have been discussed. The head of the new Government is an experienced socialdemocratic politician Gediminas Kirkilas who held the post of the Minister of National Defence in the previous Government. If we recall the saying of a famous Lithuanian politician that a Prime Minister must be first a good diplomat, we seem to have a rather good and right person in this post. This saying could be supported by the fact that Gediminas Kirkilas has the humanitiesbased education, holds the ability to integrate interests of different political camps and always listens attentively to thoughts and expectations of an ordinary man. Nevertheless, the opponents advise to be careful with these expectations they suggest finding at least one citizen of Lithuania who has received the real and tangible help of Gediminas Kirkilas. In the latter case, we are, probably, speaking about the personal attitudes when grumblings are never avoided. We are far more interested in the ability of the Gediminas Kirkilas Government to fulfil its promises on the state level laid out in the Programme of the 14th Government of the Republic of Lithuania for 20062008 dedicated to Harmony and Welfare. In truth, all previous Governments could have given the similar name to their programmes. The current programme is also rich in slogans, like strengthen, promote, improve, seek or ensure. Maybe this is the reason why this programme has not received any critique. Do you recall the leaderdictator of a powerful Asian country enjoying old and welldeveloped civilization (we do not want to say the name of this country so as not to offend its citizens since the name of the leader is worshipped until the present day)? When ideological opponents tried to teach the antecedents of that old civilization and criticize the leaders statements, they nearly faced fiasco. Try and criticize such saying The sun is the hottest in midday, if you are so clever. We do not hold the goal to put the equals sign between the Government programmes and these profound statements, however the logics of life shows that many important and serious things will be inevitably implemented in Lithuania without any Governmental programmes. It is also strange that many provisions of the Programme have been already legalized in laws and other normative acts and what is left just to put them into practise. Government programmes must be prepared, although very few people read them. The deeper analysis of the new programme discloses very concrete plans. Particular attention is given to the energy sector. It is envisaged to make progress in implementing the most important infrastructure projects (power bridges to Poland and under the Baltic Sea, Via Baltica, Rail Baltica), lay all efforts to start the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania and so maintain Lithuania as a nuclear country. The aforementioned measures and the construction of a new natural gas terminal realised in cooperation with Latvia will help Lithuania to become economically stronger. Alongside, we must also learn to pass over to those production and service sectors that consume far less electricity and other energy resources. On the other hand, saving and efficient use is not a sin western counties reach far larger production output using the same resources. The attention and support should be also given to the longdiscussed intentions to simplify the procedure of changing the land purpose (there are suggestions to change the relative legislation and so eliminate the establishment of land purpose). No less important is to complete drawing general plans of cities necessary for land liberalization and investment, to complete the land reform by 31 December 2007 as envisaged in the Programme of the Government and finish the restitution of ownership rights to land. As a result, more land plots will come on the market and the prices of real property will drop down, although the real property bubble is diminishing, real estate agencies and commercial banks find it difficult to cope with the arising problems. The aforementioned reforms will make the social climate in Lithuania milder. Those who remind socialdemocrats (by their nature) and the head of the Government that solving social and health care problems is the most immediate task should not forget such important aspects as land restrictions. By the way, critics of the programme of the Government say right to the face that the Government in concentrating to these problems thinks only about consumption and not how to earn money. In the name of truth we must note that the Government programme also envisages how to make the money. Probably, the critics were mistaken by the layout of the programme: social and education affairs are put in the beginning while economic sectors in the back of the programme. Bearing in mind that reading programmes is boring, moreover knowing that not a single programme have ever been fully implemented, not all of us have enough willpower to get acquainted with it in more detail or read between the lines. It will be a positive development if the new Government will be allowed consistently realize or at least start the implementation of tasks we have just spoken about. Lets not forget that the new Government is the minority Government. On the other hand how useful is the majority Government if it is composed of millions of oppositions what was characteristic to the last Government. Probably this is the reason why the consistent politician, skilled in speaking and writing, like Gediminas Kirkilas is, has been chosen for the position of the Prime Minster (G. Kirkilas has once worked as a journalist). In fact, during the unofficial meeting arranged before the formation of the new Government, the leaders of the strongest opposition party, the Conservatives, expressed their sympathies to another socialdemocrat Algirdas Butkevičius who is now heading the Ministry of Transport and Communications. It seems that Gediminas Kirkilas has succeeded in persuading his political partners and in the majority of cases finding the golden mean in formation of the new Government and his team. The difficulties have not been avoided only in looking for viceministers, particularly in assigning the Viceminister of Foreign Affairs. In the beginning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas offered this position to Rimas Stankevičius, presently working in the Seimas, a person who has rich experience in international cooperation, is noted for diplomatic discretion and intellect. However, the candidate has asked to withdraw his candidacy so as not to make harm to his sister Kazimira Prunskienė, Minister of Agriculture and leader of the Peasants and New Democratic Party Union. However is it necessary to artificially stop the political career if someone from your family is an influential person? Even relatives of the former minister have got jobs in the ministry and this has not caused any great problems to anybody.
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Commercial
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The mist of uncertainty that overshadowed the negotiations on the sale of AB Mažeikių nafta (further MN) to new owners has been finally cleared away. Today it is already obvious that the new MN owner will be the Polish company PKN Orlen. We talk to Kęstutis Daukšys, head of the Governmental negotiation team and now acting Minister of Economy, about the long process of negotiations, their evaluation and impact to the future operation of the Lithuanian refinery, as well as the planned use of the earned 2,3 billion litas. Dear Minister, what feelings do the completed negotiations evoke? Was the marathon of negotiations exhaustive? I must admit that the negotiations were truly very difficult, long and extremely important to Lithuania. The whole team of negotiators me, Viceminister of Economy Nerijus Eidukevičius and Advisor to the Prime Minister Saulius Spėčius felt the huge responsibly for the outcomes of these negotiations. The negotiations proceeded far more intensively than we had planned. Sometimes I joked to have become the Minister of Mažeikių nafta since I devoted lots of my time and energy to this specific issue. All negotiators sought to make this transaction the most beneficial to Lithuania and its people so we worked really hard. No less input was made by other officials of the Ministry of Economy, hired British and Dutch lawyers, other consultants. In the period of negotiations, it happened that the whole team met at 1 oclock at night or worked on weekends. Sometimes, we decided that it was necessary to have a meeting with representatives of Yukos or potential investors and in a couple of hours we were boarding a plane to Amsterdam or London. Which results make you the most happy? How different will these agreements be from those concluded with the Williams company?First, all prior agreements on AB Mažeikių nafta that were harmful to Lithuania will be revoked: agreements relating to prior stages in privatization of the company will be terminated, and any commitments made under these agreements will be eliminated. This means that property plundering, abuse, money transfer to offshore companies that was usual in the times of operation of the Williams company will not exit any more. Besides, this large refinery was given to the Williams company for free and even paying it 290 million dollars, while today we earn 2.3 billion litas. Second, the new agreements include protectors to protect the national security interests. The Ministry of Economy will appoint a supervisor whose duty will be to inform about all decisions made in the refinery, while the Government will hold the right to demand to revoke these decisions if they endanger the national security of the Republic of Lithuania or its energy security policy. If more than 50 percent of PKN Orlen voting shares are acquired by an entity endangering the national security of Lithuania, the Government may demand to sell the MN shares to a proper investor. Third, to my opinion we have negotiated truly good price for the Government owned shares. Over 2.3 billion litas is a significant contribution into the national budget. Besides, in case of selling another 10 percent in the form of options in three or five years we could earn some other hundreds millions litas. As soon as the information about the transaction concluded between the Polish company and Yukos was made public some Russian representatives said that they had never heard about the new MN owner so raising the issue of oil supply. What is your opinion about such reaction of Russia?To say it honestly, in choosing the Polish company PKN Orlen we also had some doubts regarding the oil supply. We cannot discount the possibility of termination of oil supply. Nevertheless, I think that the company that is investing billions has analysed all versions and variants in buying MN. I would like to remind that oil may arrive to Mažeikiai both by land and sea. Besides, the Polish company is a large buyer of the Russian oil and so commercial pragmatic interests should dominate. How is the Government planning to use the earned money?So far I may only say that the team of negotiators worked hard to sell the Government owned shares at the largest market price and bring the maximum contribution into the national budget. I, as a man and a minister, wish to see this money to be used to repay debts to people for land and rouble holdings. It is a shame that these debts have not been paid so far and they must finally reach the Lithuanian people. I am pleased to say that the thirteenth, coalition, Government has laid solid foundations for restoration of rouble holdings and repaying other debts to people. I also hope that the money that we will receive will be used for promotion of innovations, creation of capital risk funds and development of other economic activities that form the basis for the growth of the national economy. Today, we are facing a unique chance to invest in sectors which need reforms most, are extremely important to Lithuanias economic development and have the potential to improve our lives. These are the decisions to be made by the whole Cabinet of Ministers. I hope that the future Government will successfully and maximum use this chance.
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Lithuania Going to the Schengen
by Monika Vilutytė |
In the beginning of June some information was spread in the media supposedly stating the development and setting up of the secondgeneration Schengen Information System (SIS II) was lagging behind and the European Commission was to present a new time schedule according to which the Member States willing to be part of the new Schengen Area would have to correct their plans. The Brussels has neither approved, nor denied such information therefore Lithuania is still continuing preparatory works in accordance with the previous schedule.
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INCOME LEGALLY EARNED IN OTHER COUNTRIES Will Not Be Subject for Double Taxation
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After the amendment to laws came into effect in the beginning of this year, Lithuanians employed in foreign countries do not have to pay the income tax for the second time in Lithuania, i.e. they are exempt from this tax by the method of exemption. Expected effect Until 2005, the double taxation was eliminated by the method of deduction (credit): a resident of Lithuania who received income in a foreign country and paid the income tax in that country, in Lithuania had to pay the difference between the amount that he had to pay in Lithuania and the amount actually paid in a foreign country. Residents of Lithuania employed in foreign countries paid 2025 million litas of personal income tax into the national budget per year. After the amendments to the law have been passed, according to preliminary estimations the budget of the public sector will get by 12 million less in 2007, 9 million litas less in 2008 and 6 million litas less in 2009. However, it must be noted that the simplified administration of elimination of double taxation of income was rather expensive. The mechanism of elimination of double taxation of income has been made simpler since it is no longer necessary to calculate the difference between the tax amount to be paid in Lithuania and actually paid in a foreign country. The simplified requirements to documents concerning the income derived in a foreign country should make the administrative costs of Lithuanian residents smaller. Experience of foreign countries During the process of preparation of the draft law, the international practise in double taxation of income was taken into consideration. This practise says that double taxation of income is usually eliminated using the socalled credit or exemption method. Some countries, like Estonia, Austria, Belgium and France eliminate double taxation of income using both methods depending upon the type of income. In these countries, the method of exemption is used for income connected with employment relations, income from commercial and any other active activities. The method of credit is used in respect of passive income, such like interest, dividends and royalties. Elimination of double taxation of income using both methods is most often practised in the world and so Lithuania has chosen the same method. After the Law Amending the Law on Amendment and Supplement of Articles 6, 20, 27 and 37 of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Personal Income Tax has come into effect, regulations of Article 37 of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Personal Income Tax Elimination of Double Taxation of Income Received in Foreign Countries have been changed. The comments on the most important changes are presented by Vilma Vildžiūnaitė, Director of Tax Law Department of the State Tax Inspectorate under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania. Elimination of double taxation A resident of Lithuania who in 2005 or later years received income in a foreign country (except dividends, interest and royalties), is exempt from paying a tax in Lithuania, if: a tax paid from such income in a foreign country according to the order established by the tax laws of that country is an income tax or a tax identical to it; a resident holds a document about income received in that foreign country and amount of the paid income tax or tax identical to it (a document issued by an employer, tax administrator, etc.)The method of exemption is used to eliminate the double taxation of income that a resident of Lithuania has derived and will derive in the EU Member States and foreign countries with which Lithuania has signed agreements on avoidance of double taxation (as of today, such agreements have been signed with 41 country; their list is available on the Website of the State Tax Inspectorate at the address www.vmi.lt/naujienos/leidiniai/naujausileidiniai. If income has been derived in other countries, the method of tax exemption is not used. In such a case, the double taxation is eliminated by deducting the income tax paid in a foreign country from the income tax calculated according to the Lithuanian laws and paying the difference into the Lithuanian budget. If a resident of Lithuania gets interest, dividends and royalties from any of the foreign countries, the double taxation is eliminated using the method of deduction. If income is derived in zones enjoying tax incentives, i.e. targeted territories the list of which has been approved by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania (United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Maldives, etc.), elimination of double taxation for such income in Lithuania is not applied. More information about taxation of income derived in foreign countries is available on the Website of the State Tax Inspectorate at the address www.vmi.lt/naujienos/leidiniai/naujausileidiniai that contains a special publication Taxation of income derived by residents of Lithuania in foreign countries in Lithuania (also in the English language).
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The Lithuanian Bar Strengthens Bilateral Cooperation
by Rytis Jokubauskas Secretary of |
The Lithuanian Bar Association is the member of the International Bar Association (IBA) since 1992 and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) since 2004. These are the two organizations through which the Lithuanian Bar Association makes popular not only Lithuanian advocates but also the name of Lithuania.  Bilateral cooperation is getting strongerCurrently, more active bilateral cooperation of the Lithuanian Bar Association with Bar associations of other countries is observed. The President of the German Bar Association Dr. Bernhard Dombek and Vicepresident Norbert Westenberg came on visit to Lithuania recently, while this summer Lithuania welcomed the delegations from Kazakhstan and the Italian Bar Association headed by the President of the Italian Bar Association Prof. Guido Alpa. It is important that delegations of German and Italian Bar Associations were led by the heads of these associations. Such attention to the Lithuanian Bar Association is easy to explain. After Lithuania acceded the European Union (EU), Bar associations of the old EU Member States demonstrate interest in their new partners, want to find out more about activities of Bar associations of the new EU members, what problems they face and what positions they hold in dealing with various issues. The importance of positions of the Bar associations of the new EU Member States must be evaluated also in the context of international organizations. As it was mentioned above, on 1 May 2004, the Lithuanian Bar Association became the full member of CCBE ? the largest Bar organization in Europe. Lithuanian Bar association holds more in CCBE votes than most the Lithuania of the new EU members and Bar associations of several smaller European countries. Bar associations of Luxembourg, Slovakia and Finland enjoy only by one vote more than the Lithuanian Bar Association. Therefore, it is absolutely clear why Bar associations of other European countries are very interested and value the position of the Lithuanian Bar. On the other hand, countries that are not EU members are interested in Lithuanias preaccession experience. Hardly two decades ago, states of the postsoviet block shared nearly the same positions both in discussing the place of the Bar in the legal system and the legal system in general. These countries are very much interested in Lithuanias activities in regulating the Bar activities, they learn from Lithuanias experience and later use it in creation or reorganization of their own Bar selfgoverning organizations. Finally, both in Europe and the world Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are regarded as one region Baltic countries. The Lithuanian Bar Association has won the leaders positions in the region not only by the number of advocates but also by active participation in activities of the international legal community. Therefore, the Bars of other countries, in seeking for close cooperation with the Baltic countries, firstly wish to strengthen their relations with the leader of the region Lithuanian Bar Association. Visit of the Kazakh delegationOn 21 June 2006, the delegation led by the Head of Legislation Department in the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Dzumabekov visited the Lithuanian Bar Association. The delegation also included the Advisor to the President of the Union of Advocates of the Republic of Kazakhstan Madina Mukusheva and Advocate in the AlmaAta Board of Advocates Rauja Shabanova. The guests were interested in guarantees of legal practice, relations among Bar selfgoverning and public administration institutions. The Kazakh advocates appreciated the possibility to take the translation of the Law on Bar of the Republic of Lithuania to Kazakhstan and intended to use Lithuanias experience in discussing possible reforms in the Kazakh Bar system. Representatives of the Kazakh delegation were interested in the attitude of the Lithuanian Bar to the system of the stateguaranteed legal aid, practical aspects of the functioning of this system, availability, scope and efficiency of the state legal aid. Amendments to the Law on Bar in ItalyThe delegation of the Italian Bar came to Lithuania on the day of Coronation of Mindaugas, King of Lithuania. It consisted of ten Italian advocates representing various Italian regions and was headed by the President of the Italian Bar Association Prof. Guido Alpa. The guests were interested in civil law in Lithuania: structure of the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, legislation on company activities, its relation with the Civil Code, motives for choosing this model of regulation. Lithuanian representatives were introduced to the situation in the Italian civil law. Opinions about the common EU Civil Code were exchanged during the bilateral meeting of representatives of Lithuanian and Italian Bar Associations. The President of the Italian Bar Association described not so successful attempts of the Italian Bar to achieve the positive CCBE position regarding the common EU Civil Code. Lithuanian advocates supported the idea to have common principles of the EU civil law, however reservedly evaluated the idea of the wider codification both due to different traditions in different EU Member States and different legal systems in Europe. Lithuanian and Italian advocates exchanged information about their Bar activities . Guido Alpa the President of the Italian Bar Association presented amendments to the Law on Bar passed by the Italian Parliament just several weeks ago. The new law removed minimum and maximum fees for services provided by lawers, restrictions to advertising of lawers and made the requirements to data protection of lawers clients much stricter. The Chairman of the Council of the Lithuanian Bar Association Rimas Andrikis shared the experience of the Lithuanian Bar in reinstitution of the requirement of the Law on Bar to pass the qualification exam by all wouldbe advocates that was removed in 2004 and restored a year later. Representatives of the Bars of both countries discussed requirements raised to lawyers on prevention of money laundering. Lithuanian advocates, different from their Italian colleagues, must report about the suspected money laundering not directly the Financial Crime Investigation Service but the Lithuanian Bar Association. The Italian advocates regretted that they have not been in the capacity to introduce such model of information provision in Italy due to the very large number of lawyers there are 180 000 lawyers in Italy with one lawyer falling per 322 residents (in Lithuania, 1500 advocates or one lawer per 2267 residents respectively). The meeting took place in the heat of the World Football Championship when the Italian and French teams were to play in the finals. Wishing all the luck to the Italian football team in saying goodbye reaffirmed the seek for close bilateral cooperation. A glance to the futureIn the near future, the Lithuanian Bar Association will develop even more intensive bilateral international cooperation that will mainly manifest in three fields. In private meetings, the Lithuanian Bar Association has already heard the wish of the Bars of other large European countries to come to Lithuania, to learn more about the Lithuanian Bar and the legal system in Lithuania. Lithuania must duly get ready for these visits, since they are important to the formation of the image of not only the Lithuanian Bar but the whole state. Return visits are an obligatory good form to stimulate the development of bilateral relations, thus representatives of the Lithuanian Bar will go on visits to other countries more often, though the budget for international cooperation is limited. The Lithuanian Bar will seek for the development of closer cooperation among the Bars of the Baltic countries. These countries are and will remain one region to many countries. The cooperation with the Bars of the same region must be the closest. The Lithuanian Bar, if it does not wish to loose the leaders positions in the region, will have to take this role in developing relations not only with Bars of other countries but also Latvia and Estonia.
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| KAUNAS
by Giedrius Kalninis
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After the successful arrangement of the European Athletics Junior Championship in Kaunas last year, the event that was one of the largest sports events ever organized in Lithuania, the European Athletics Association (EAA) awarded Kaunas the exceptional right to organize international athletics games EAA Permit Meeting Kaunas. Such games were arranged on 1 July this year in the stadium of S. Darius and S. Girėnas in Kaunas. The 18th European Athletics Junior Championship organized in Kaunas last year was one of the largest sports events in Lithuanias history. The championship welcomed over 1000 athletes from 45 European countries. The EAA President Hansjorg Wirz who visited Kaunas in these days highly evaluated the work of the organizers of the championship. The fact that 44 national and 1 world junior record (achieved by the Russian athlete Vera Sokolova in the 10 000 m walking (43 min 11,34 sec) during the first day of the championship) were born in Kaunas proves that the organizers of the championship have created the best conditions for all sportsmen to seek for the highest results, said H. Wirz. The President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus has agreed to be the patron of the competition EAA Permit Meeting Kaunas 2006 with the budget of over 1 million litas and the prize fund of 250 thousald litas awarded by Kaunas City Municipality. From the young days, the President Valdas Adamkus was the admirer and participant of athletic games. He won two gold and two silver medals in trackandfield events at the Olympic Games of the Enslaved Nations arranged in 1948 in Germany. Therefore, it is symbolic that this championship had two Presidential Cups: to the best Lithuanian sportsman, and to the winner of the long jump. The first cup was awarded to the legendary Lithuanian athlete, winner in discusthrowing Virgilijus Alekna, the second to the long jumper from Australia Fabrice Lapierre. EAA Permit Meeting Kaunas 2006 was an attractive event inviting the best Lithuanian and world athletes fight for the highest awards. The spectators admired such stars, like the best longjumper of the century Tatyana Kotova (Russia), repeated champion in 110 meters hurdles, men Stanislav Olijar (Latvia). The legendary German discus thrower Lars Riedel was also among the participants. Fights of Virgilijus Alekna and Lard Riedel, the best discus throwers of the century in the world, always attract crowds of people. Starting 1999, these two athletes have met 41 times and the Lithuanian athlete was better, usually occupying the first place, than his German colleague even 28 times. It was 22 May 2004 when Lars Riedel won against Virgilijus Alekna the last time. Kaunas was the place for V. Aleknas triumph. He threw discus 68,95 m and by 3,56 m overcame his German rival. The programme of the Meeting consisted of 12 events that welcomed 114 strongest athletes from over 20 countries. Lithuanian sportsmen won 6 highest awards; 2 national and 13 personal records were achieved, also 24 best achievements of the season were recorded. Lithuanian representatives held 1 first, 3 second and 2 third places. Lithuanians were awarded a nice possibility to admire the famous Kenya and Ethiopia runners. EAA Permit Meeting Kaunas 2006 was arranged in the stadium of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas. Steponas Darius was not only a legendary pilot, the hero of the transatlantic flight from the USA to Lithuania, national hero but also the forerunner of many kinds of sports in Lithuania and a sports organizer. S. Darius was the winner of the second place in javelin throwing at the 1st Lithuanian Athletics Championship in 1921 (34,40 m). S. Darius exerted every effort in getting the land plot from the Kaunas City Board in which, according to S. Darius and K. Bulotas project the first stadium of the Lithuanian Physical Education Union was erected in 1925. In 1936, it was reconstructed and became the State stadium. In 1939, next to the stadium the Sports Hall was built where the same year the 3rd European Basketball Championship was held. In recent years, European Athletics Cup competitions have been held in the stadium of S. Darius and S. Girėnas for three times: in 1998 and 2000 it welcomed the athletes of the second league and in 2001 the athletes of the combined events second league. A lot of Baltic states events, SELL students games, Lithuanian championships have been held here. Last year, the stadium hosted the 18th European Athletics Junior Championship. In preparing for this event, the stadium facilities were renewed, new scoreboard was constructed, warmingup and throwers training fields were arranged. The history of the stadium records one world record achieved by Kristina Saltanovič in a 20000m walking (the record time 1:35:23.7) in 2000. The three best results of all times have been achieved in the stadium of S. Darius and S. Girėnas recorded in Lithuanian stadiums during the history of Lithuanian athletics. Their authors are the Latvian champion in 110 meters hurdles, men Stanislav Olijar (13,25), Italian athlete in 300m meters steeplechase, women Marzena Michalska (9:54,71) and Latvian javelin thrower Voldemars Lusis (83,68). Director of the championship Virginijus Dauksys: I am immensely happy that the authorities and the Mayor of Kaunas City have understood and evaluated the importance of the international competition. It would have been simply impossible to arrange such a highlevel event, invite so many famous sportsmen and attract the interest of Kaunas residents and guests without the assistance of the city and its authorities. The fact that the President of Lithuania has agreed to be the patron of this sports event reconfirm its importance to Kaunas and Lithuania in the whole. Participation of the highest level European and world sportsmen in the Kaunas athletics championship attract the attention of the world sports community and influential media companies, this meaning that it is a particularly important event and good promotion of the city of Kaunas on the international scale. Kaunas, the city that has one of the strongest European basketball clubs Žalgiris, Academy of Physical Education and the unique athletics centre in S. Darius and S. Girėnas stadium, have all the reasons to become the capital of not only athletics but also sports. Therefore, discussions are held to establish an international certified athletics training centre in Kaunas that would receive for training both Lithuanian and sportsmen form other countries. As of today, there are 16 such centres in the world. During the last year championship, EAA representatives suggested arranging the international athletics games EAA Permit Meeting 2006 in Kaunas. Such large and important international sports event has been arranged in Lithuania for the first time. It welcomed sportsmen from over 30 countries of the old European continent. The best European and world athletes awarded the spectators impressive moments and showed the best results in Kaunas. Their achievements prove Kaunas to be a city ready to host the highestlevel sports events at probably the lowest costs in Europe. The success was mainly decided by good organization, professional work of the organizing committee, infrastructure that has been modernized to ensure the European standards for accommodation and provision of services to guests of the city. I would like sincerely thank all those who have contributed by their work, ideas and any other activities to successful arrangement of the sports fiesta in the city of sports Kaunas. I was pleased to see that the competition attracted the attention of the city community and more and more people come to admire the fight of athletes. Such events significantly contribute to popularization of athletics while such athletes like Virgilijus Alekna inspire many young people to follow the paths of our sports heroes and further advocate the name of Lithuania throughout the world.
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What has
Elena Berukštytė staff writer has put down the thoughts and ideas of the Director of Castle Research Centre Lietuvos pilys Eduardas Kauklys and archaeologist Gintautas Striška.
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The Dubingiai castlesite is situated on the shores of the Asveja Lake, in Dubingiai town, Molėtai District. Earlier there used to be an island, while today it is a large peninsularmound about 500 m long and 200 m wide. The ruins of the 16th17th century Radvilos Palace and a church are found in the castlesite. Archaeological investigations in the castle site and the place of the former church are conducted since 2003. In written sources, the name of Dubingiai land was first mentioned in 1334 in describing the attack of the Livonian Order. In later years, the name of Dubingiai was a composite part of the ducal title of Radvilos. Archeological investigations conducted so far at small scale do not allow categorically saying that the Dubingiai castlesite grew from the former wooden castle and a mound used in prehistoric times. The castlesite that is probably the biggest in Lithuania has not been included into the new, soon to be published Lithuanian Atlas of Castle Sites since it does not have features characteristic to a mound or probably is too large for a standard mound. The probable early development of the Dubingiai castlesite is indirectly proved by the fact that after the Grundwald Battle the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas built a castle and already in 1415 invited the King Jogaila to be his guest. Before 1430, Vytautas built a Church of Holy Spirit in this castle place. The further development of the castlesite was traced back to written sources of the 16th century when around 1508 Dubingiai was passed to the Radvilos family. Since then and until the middle of the 17th century Dubingiai was inseparable from the history of upsurge and prosperity of Radvilos. In the second half of the 17th century, when the main Radvilos castle was moved to Biržai, the period of recession started in Dubingiai. The Dubingiai community of evangelicalreformats stopped existing in 1730. The palace and church buildings were neglected and left to ruin. In 1735, the roof and wooden inner constructions of the church were put on fire by a lightning. Later, in the 19th century, buildings of the church and palace were demolished for bricks. In 1808, Mykolas Tiškevičius bought Dubingiai, however the then plans of the castlesite show only the places of ruins of former buildings, while the rest territory is described as arable land and meadows. Ruins of the castle and church were also shown in the lithography of N. Horde of 1878 where they were pictured from the southwestern side, from the other shore of the Asveja Lake. The lithography illustrated brokendown palace that was several storey high and had no roof, and a ruined tower nearby. The rise of the Radvilos family was observed in the 16th century and until the 17th century it remained one of the most powerful noblemen families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1547, the emperor Karolis V awarded this family the title of a duke. The family was made even more famous by Barbora Radvilaitė, sister of Mikalojus Radvilas the Brown. In 1550, she was crowned as the Queen of Poland and after the death buried in Vilnius Cathedral. The inventory of the castle site show that at that time the Radvilos Palace was made of brick, had two storeys, cellars, a tower and other rooms. In 1565, on the initiative of Mikalojus Radvila the Brown, Dubingiai Church was given to evangelicalreformats. In 1620, on the initiative of Jonušas VI Radvila, the son of Perkūnas (15791620), a new, small, Renaissance church with one tower was built in the place of the old church. Since the beginning of the 17th century, the sanctuary of evangelicalreformats in Dubingiai was attempted to be made the mausoleum of the Radvilos family. It had to contain 2 black, 2 brown and 3 smaller white marble sarcophagi. Later, in the 17th18th centuries, only one marble sarcophagus of Mikalojus Radvila the Brown and 4 marble tombstones was mentioned. Assumptions may be made that in the middle of the 17th century, during the years of the invasion of the Russian army, the Radvilos burialgrounds in Dubingiai were destroyed and tombs were violated. After this invasion, somebody collected the remains and reburied them in a separate box under the church floors. In the beginning of the 18th century, Radvilos, inheritors of Dubingiai, were looking for their ancestors graves however did not find them. The place of the reburial was found only in 2004 during archaeological investigations. Several tens of burials investigated until then may be divided into two larger groups: the survived untouched graves and burials; graves and burials destroyed by various constructions. Particular attention should be given to remains of eight people put into a coffinbox made by special order that were moved from one place and buried in the central part of the church under the former Table of the God. Being aware that the church was built by Radvilos and that they were buried here in a special sarcophagus, also taking into consideration that not a single source mentions the reburial of Radvilos remains buried in Dubingiai in any other place in Lithuania, assumptions were made that the burial ground found during the investigations was the place where Radvilos remains were hidden. During the investigation, apse, foundations of side walls, and fragments of the lower part of walls of the Renaissance Dubingiai evangelicalreformats church built in the beginning of the 17th century were found. Foundations and walls were made of stone and bricks, by the method of brick binding and interchange of bricks and stones that was characteristic to Renaissance. The church had solid foundations 3 m deep and 2.9 m wide. During the investigation, a fragment of tile floors, stairs to the burial crypt in the apse and several fragments of the older foundations were found. Findings of the whole area included fragments of laminated tiles with the socalled beaver tails. It is known that tiles covered the roof of the Renaissance church. The interior and exterior of the church were covered with plaster; windows had stainedglasses what is proved by fragments of coloured glass and leaden frames of stainedglasses found during the excavations. The investigations produced several hundred findings. The most early of them was coins of the Grad Duke of Lithuania Aleksandras (the end of the 15th century), the latest fragments of the marble tombstones of the Radvilos graves. Among the finds were brown, white and black marble and alabaster fragments. During the archaeological and architectural investigation of the Radvilos Palace, the eastern corner of the palace was discovered. The walls were made of bricks by the method of brick biding characteristic to Gothicism, however the bricks had Renaissance proportions. This fact shows that the stonework was built in the middle of the 16th century at the latest. The fragments of the floors of the first storey demonstrate that the palace was repaired several times. During the last repairs, floors (17thcentury) were made of special small and wide, rectangular bricks under which was the layer of mortar used in making former floors. A slightly destroyed arch of the cylindrical cellar (the upper party of the arch (ceilings) and a bay) was found under the floor. The historic sources show that there were three cellars in the palace: prison, treasury and beer cellar. Over a thousand findings were discovered outside the palace, mainly tiles decorated in plant and armorial ornaments covered with polychromic glaze. The largest part of tiles contained the Radvilos coat of arms. Some of them were marked with IR initials that probably belonged to Jonušas Radvila. The Dubingiai castlesite also produced the so far unknown tiles of the 17th century with the monogram of Žygimantas Augustas put on a small shield of the coat of arms. The interesting fact is that these tiles were made half century after the death of Žygimantas Augustas. Stonework was found under the brick wall built in the 16th century. The charred remains found on the stonework show that the palace was on great fire. Shivers of pots, animal bones were found in charred remains. The Lithuanian coin of Kazimieras Jogailaitis (III type) allows drawing the conclusion that the remains date back to the second half of the 15th century. Among the most interesting findings of that period are spearhead (14th15th centuries) and horny chessman (15th century). Chess is a particularly rare finding in the Lithuanian archaeology. Further archaeological investigation of the palace will probably help to disclose the origins of Radvilos, one of the most famous families of Lithuanian dukes. The results of archaeological and architectural investigation are incomplete and will be made more exact by detalizing and specifying them; genetic investigations are planned to be conducted. However, these problems are more technical and may impact only separate details of final results. Today, we may be modestly proud of partially disclosing the history of the Dubingiai castlesite and finding the remains of important Lithuanian historic personalities.
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Will Laisves Avenue be the centre
by Elena Berukštytė
Address:
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The sculptor Stasys Žirgulis is a subtle and versatile personality. He is one of the most famous Lithuanian artists creating at the merge of two centuries and two different epochs. Stasys Žirgulis avoids extremities, cheap promotional effects and avantgarde tricks and so remains original and inventive. The art critic Algis Uždavinys says, The sculptor does not contemn the past, does not ignore the valuable experience of his predecessors and at the same time is able to find the original style of artistic expression, stands out by the balance of form and contents. The artists works range from monumental sculpture, decorative fountains to small plastics. Alongside his rich creative activities, the artist delivers lectures in painting, sculpture and composition at Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts. S. Žirgulis has been elected to the Council of Kaunas City Municipality for the second term of office. He is the member of the Education and Culture Committee and devotes much energy and time to the development of traditions of culture in Kaunas. This year, on the initiative of the sculptor Stasys Žirgulis, the first open air symposium exhibition has been arranged in Laisvės Avenue. The Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts has signed an agreement with Kaunas City Municipality on demonstration of the diploma works of students in sculpture in Laisvės Avenue for one year, not using the municipal funds for his purpose. Next year, the exposition will be changed or renewed with new sculptures. The exhibition of sculptures is a priority campaign and novelty realised by the Kaunas artists who demonstrate their intellectual features, conception, way of thinking and represent the Lithuanian nation. Stasys Žirgulis says, The goal of this symposiumexhibition is to contraposition the spirit to marketplaces and to express a wish to make Laisvės Avenue a spiritualcultural centre. Artists of Kaunas city show an artistic product in an urban environment so that people could feel and understand the spiritual heritage of our nation. The result speaks for itself sculptures attract the attention of both Kaunas residents and guests. Children admire sculptures by climbing on them and so become the best judges of the arts. Alas, Kaunas city authorities hold a rather sceptic and formal attitude towards this exposition. They say that sculptures do not allow to properly clean Laisvės Avenue what evidently shows their indifference toward culture of our nation. Do we still have to argue that culture is the foundationstone of the state, that culture was cherished by our ancestors even in those times when Lithuania did not have the writing? Elimination of this foundationstone is the same as to build a house without substructures. It hurts very much to see city authorities that have recently approved of a nice idea to silently suppress it after several months. It is strange and paradoxical indeed small towns in Lithuania give huge attempts to finding niches for artistic expressions, while the authorities of the second largest town in Lithuania Kaunas object to the longterm progressive idea of Kaunas artists that even does not ask for financial investment of the municipality.
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My creation is devotion to one material, by Eelena Berukštytė
Porcelain Address: Azuolu St. 11 |
The art critic Raimonda KogelytėSimanaitienė says, The works of Živilė Bardzilauskaitė are diverse and multiform. The artist makes outstanding individual vessels, sculpture compositions, decorative plates. Some articles are made using a specific form, others are modelled (although it is known that porcelain is the material difficult to model). The decoration of the artists works is very intricate and rich, made using the specifics of sculpture, painting and graphics. Very often all these methods merge in one piece of work, sometimes the priority is given to one or another method of decoration
Živilė Bardzilauskaitė Born: 1956 07 17 Lithuania. Education: Vilnius Art Academy, Ceramic Department 19771982. Membership: 1995 Artist Union of Lithuania. Solo Exhibitions: 19872003 16 exhibitions arranged. Group Exhibitions and International Ceramics Competitions: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, USA, Italy.
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An idea is most important to me; by Eelena Berukštytė
Porcelain Address: Azuolu St. 11
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I like porcelain because it is white. For many years, I have been looking for white material to realize my creation. I use three dimensions because it is the space where I find it easier to embody my thoughts. Social themes and the surrounding world dominate in my creation. I have always wanted to be independent. Artists working with porcelain depend upon plants. I have arranged a workshop in my house. It is a place where I can concentre on creation and improve the technique. The art is a phenomenon that may not be understood at once and a piece of work may find its buyer only after several years. That is why we manufacture dishes to earn our daily bread and gladly receive special orders. In my creation, I try to preserve the style of my hometown Riga. Sometimes I am astonished that artists of other countries notice such thinks in my works that I am not capable of noticing myself. Maybe the view from a distance is better?
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Simonas Skrabulis, by Eelena Berukštytė
Address: B. Radvilatės 72,
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Simonas Skrabulis was born in 1976 in Vilnius. After finishing M. K. Čiurlionis Art School, he studied at Iceland Academy of Arts and Malme Academy of Arts. The artist joined the Lithuanian Artists Association in 2001. Since 1998, S. Skrabulis has arranged 22 personal exhibitions in Lithuania and foreign countries, exhibited works in group exhibitions arranged in Lithuania, Iceland, Denmark and Greenland. The artist was awarded a special prize of the 3rd international competition of sculptures organized in 1994 in Japan. His works may be found in private collections in Lithuania, Italy, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, China, the USA and other countries. Simonas Skrabulis says, Art, in being intangible and great, allows to express oneself, feel the completeness of this expression and sweet exhaustion. The process of painting helps me to speak in colours, forms, lines, splash colours, paint them layer after layer and so, firstly, speak with myself. This is how the selfobservation and selfcognition occurs, as does the selfencouragement for new searches. It is me myself who firstly understand these happenings it is the world I create, the world rich in its own rules, characters and new breath of air. The works are usually motivated by the surrounding mood, inner conflicts, music, weather, personal experience It may take just a second to start the process of creation: observation, catching thoughts, details and moods, thinking, relaxation, comprehension, expression In the process of creation, I usually look for new plastic forms that could better and more exactly reveal my feelings and thoughts. I use mixed techniques, seek for their harmony and so obtain the wider plastic speech of my inner world. I do not think that a picture may be translated into the language of a plot it is the inner joy, awakening of feelings.
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Albinas by Eelena Berukštytė
Address: |
The leather artist Albinas Kavaliauskas was born in 1948 in Gvaldai Village, Šilalė District. In 1972 he graduated the Art Faculty of Šiauliai University (then Pedagogical Institute) and obtained the profession of the teacher in art, technologies and drawing. A. Kavaliauskas is the member of the Lithuanian Artists Association since 1999. From 1974, the artist participates in exhibitions in Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands, periodically arranges personal exhibitions. He develops activities in the field of volumetric objects and plastics, leather sculpture. The artist raises his professional skills in international bookbindery symposiums and theoreticpractical leather art seminars. In 2002, the artist participated in the EU Leonardo da Vinci mobility project LT/02EX/1/0296 Innovations in leather design and technologies and their use in professional training in Germany. In 1992, Albinas Kavaliauskas prepared the study programme for leather fine works and in 2000 the study programme of leather technologies for vocational schools, in 2003 published a book Leather technology. Currently, A. Kavaliauskas is the Head of Applied Art and Technology Department of Art Faculty in Šiauliai University, member of the international leather art guild LeatherArtForum.
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EXlibris gives space for improvisation and
Address: A. Jakšto str. 11-4,
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The painter and advocate Savinijus Katauskas was born in 1936 in Šiauliai into the family of civil servants. After the war, the Katauskai family returned to Klaipėda where in 1953 Savinijus Katauskas finished violin classes at the music school and in 1955 K. Donelaitis Secondary School. |
