LRT English Newsletter – September 13, 2024
Ruby, a cargo ship carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate from Russia, was damaged in a storm and its captain appealed for Lithuania’s helping hand. More specifically, he applied for an opportunity to unload the cargo at the Port of Klaipėda and get the ship fixed at one of the repair companies operating there.
Thank you, but no, said Lithuania. Its main concern turned out to be the highly explosive cargo. If 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were to explode, it would wipe out the entire centre of Klaipėda, the explosives experts warned. However, the ship might still be repaired in Lithuania after losing its cargo elsewhere. There is no reason not to allow the Maltese-flagged vessel in, as it belongs to a UAE company and is in no other way linked to Russia, the Klaipėda port authorities explained.
In other Russia news:
– A Russian military drone flying from Belarus crashed in Latvia’s Rēzekne region on Saturday. Although it probably flew into Latvia accidentally, the Lithuanian leaders seized the opportunity to urge NATO to beef up the Baltic states’ air defence and alter the algorithms of its Air Policing mission.
– Meanwhile, Kęstutis Kvietkus, who has served in the Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, will lose his Lithuanian citizenship.
– And the Lithuanian president is still waiting to denounce the treaties with Russia and Belarus on investment promotion and protection, raising questions as to why.
(UN)DESIRED WORKERS
Lithuanian employers have changed their minds about workers who return from emigration, a new study has shown. Previously preferring those educated in Lithuania, they now think the unique experiences and competencies people acquire while living abroad are no less valuable.
However, the same is not exactly true for foreign workers. This year, almost 36,000 foreigners were not allowed to work and reside in Lithuania after the country tightened migration control measures. This mostly concerns unskilled workers.
Meanwhile, Lithuania would like to retain the skills and knowledge of foreigners studying in the country’s universities, but few choose to stay for work after graduation. Foreign students cite the language barrier as the biggest obstacle to getting a job in Lithuania. And the situation might soon get even worse, as the Lithuanian lawmakers want to oblige foreign workers and companies employing them to serve clients in the local language.
LITHUANIA IN FRANCE
The Lithuanian Season in France has officially started this week. The three-month cultural project will introduce contemporary Lithuania and its culture to the French public through various events and exhibitions. As part of the season, the Vilnius and Sorbonne universities are also establishing cooperation, and here is what the VU rector had to say about the historical ties between the two countries.
At the same time, the French artist Saype has unveiled a giant mural called Beyond Walls on the slope of Gediminas Hill in Vilnius. The painting of two clasped hands symbolises the friendship between France and Lithuania and, more universally, human unity.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
– Amid sharp populist rhetoric, Remigijus Žemaitaitis is a rising political star, becoming increasingly popular in Lithuania’s rural regions. But what’s fuelling his popularity?
– Yitskhok Rudashevski is the Anne Frank of Vilnius – a Jewish teenager who left a diary describing his life in a ghetto during the Holocaust. Six years ago, it was translated from Yiddish into Lithuanian and is now the subject of an online exhibition.
– Hardly any of his fellow coursemates are aware that Lukas heads back to prison after attending lectures at a university in Vilnius. There are nine other students like him across the country.
– While the overall number of suicides in Lithuania is decreasing and more young people are seeking emotional help, the problem persists among people aged over 60.
Would you like to contribute to LRT English? Please send your suggestions, submissions, and pitches to english@lrt.lt
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
