Voices without Votes » Lithuania

Poland, U.S.: Lech Kaczyński's Blunders

Aggregated from: Global Voices Online » U.S.A. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:33:14 +0000

Raf Uzar writes that the Polish president “is doing everything he can to get noticed much to the chagrin of most of Poland’s political elite, journalists and tired citizens” - and among his recent blunders is this line from a congratulatory letter to Barack Obama: “the President of the United States of Northern America.”

Central & Eastern Europe, U.S.: Visa-Free Travel

Aggregated from: Global Voices Online » U.S.A. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:34:00 +0000

The 8th Circle reports that citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia will now be able to visit the United States for up to 90 days without an entry visa; Polish citizens, however, are not included in this list: “It’s ironic, because of the immense role that Poland has played (and continues to play) as a stedfast ally of the United States. It’s also awkward, because Bush has promised visa-free travel to Poland’s neighbors while not being able to do the same for Warsaw.”

Lithuania: Missile Defence Alternative?

Aggregated from: Global Voices Online » U.S.A. — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:20:41 +0000

Lituanica writes about rumors that Lithuania has offered to deploy elements of the U.S. anti-missile shield, “as an alternative to Poland.”

Lithuania: Missile Shield Plan

Aggregated from: Global Voices Online » U.S.A. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:04:36 +0000

Robert Amsterdam and Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog write about an alternative U.S. missile shield plan that involves Lithuania.

Europe: Geographic Confusion

Aggregated from: Global Voices Online » U.S.A. — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:58:20 +0000

The Czech Daily Word reports that John McCain “still thinks that Czechoslovakia exists.” Lituanica reports that “the Czech-Moravia Football Federation officially apologized to the Lithuanian Football Federation and Lithuania’s Embassy in Prague for playing the national anthem of Lithuania’s neighbouring Baltic State Latvia during a friendly match between the Lithuanian and Czech national teams.” Eternal Remont concludes: “It is for this reason that Eternal Remont is a vocal supporter of Czechoslovenian reunification.”

Eleven American Diplomats leave Belarus

Aggregated from: Lex Libertas — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:50:14 +0000

Last week, Belarus demanded that 10 American diplomats leave Belarus, reducing the representation to five people. Over the weekend, 11 diplomats left the country, and are currently in Lithuania (next door). 10 were those originally declared Persona non Grata. No information has been released as to why an additional member left the country as well.

After receiving the expulsion order, giving the 10 diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, the US government debated how to respond. According to one report, they even went so far as to consider fully withdrawing diplomatic representation, and asking the Belarussians to leave the US. Apparently, this decision was actually put into motion, only to be called off at the last moment.

This tiff has been continually escalating recently. After the blatantly neither free nor fair presidential elections of 2006, the US and EU placed travel sanctions on 30 Belarussian officials and economic sanctions on the country’s petrochemical (oil) company. In response, the Belarussian government demanded that the US reduce its diplomatic staff. The US had 38 diplomats in Belarus, and Belarus had 18 in the US. The US mission was halved last month, and then the government demanded that it be reduced further, to 5. In March, the US ambassador was recalled to Washington, which leaves our embassy without a head.

As a result, the US embassy stopped issuing visas to Belarussians, citing the low number of staff and complaining that they couldn’t properly do their work. Now, with a staff of four, they have said that Belarussians can apply for visas in foreign countries (ie. Russia).

A US State Department official explained their take on the situation:

“It’s an unwarranted and unjustified action,” Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman, said. “It is something that is being done solely as a result of the United States’ support for democracy and human rights activists in Belarus.”

This series of developments is quite serious, countries don’t usually PNG large sections of another country’s representation, or force them to cut 85% of their staff.

Oddly, my experience with the Belarussian consular staff in Moscow was very pleasant. The women were very friendly and accomodating. It was one of the best consular experiences I’ve ever had, and much nicer than my past interactions with Russian or American consular assignments. Overall, I have a very high opinion of Belarussians. They are the most calm and tranquil of all the Slavs. Maybe they’re a little to patient and accomodating, particularly of their government.