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While visiting New York in 1990, I met a lot of people who knew very well where Lithuania was and why “Save Lithuania” posters could be seen on the streets and subways. The first country that announced its will to regain freedom from Soviet oppression was in the media and on people’s minds.

Was the country at anytime more popular than in that exciting time? It can be stressed that many things in the post-communist era first happened in Lithuania, including the return of former communists to power, a spectacular victory of right wing parties later, attempts to join NATO and the EU, etc.

The Lithuanian National anthem suggests looking to the past for strength in the present.

It is a viable argument. There are some very important reasons to look to the glory of the past. Next year the country will celebrate the millennium of its written history. The first kingdom came into being some 750 years ago. Some important milestones in Lithuania’s history are the rise of an empire from the Baltic to Black sea in the XVth century and the union with Poland which effectively resisted the expansion of the Russian empire toward Europe. A significant achievement in statehood building was the first Constitution in Europe in 1791 as well as Vilnius University, established in 1579 – one of the oldest academic institutions in Central Europe.

The last decade of the XXth century was a time of unprecedented political and structural reforms. Many western Europeans who were at first reluctant and skeptical about the possibilities of the Baltic States in New Europe later recognized that these countries are real success stories of transition. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are often referred to as the Baltic Tigers.

What are the wishes of the country now, being a full pledged member of the European and Transatlantic family?

The political schedule of Lithuanian politics is full of events. In 2009 the country is celebrating it’s millennium, and Vilnius has been named the cultural capital of Europe. Perhaps for the first time the geographical and cultural centers of the Old Continent will be in the same place. In 2011 the country will have the Presidency of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe and will host the European basketball championship, in 2013 Lithuania will have European Union presidency and in 2014-15 will try to become a member of the Security Council of the United Nations. The Lithuanian Government programme for 2006-2008 contains one more objective: the establishment of Lithuania as a centre of international conferences and initiatives and the seat of different international organisations or their representations.

The President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus stated in his address to the nation, that now Lithuania’s goal is “bringing European welfare to each and every home in Lithuania and building a Lithuania where nobody is forgotten”.

Nobody will deny that the country has problems. It is still a new member of the EU and its GDP per capita is approximately 60 per cent of the EU average. The EU funds are coming together with inflation, and there are energy challenges due to the end of work of the remaining reactor of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

However, the largest Baltic state has an ambitious agenda in foreign policy as well as other areas.  In its foreign policy Lithuania wants not only participate in Common foreign and security policy, but to have its solo as well.

Lithuania’s aim is promoting Euro-Atlantic co-operation in the region and abroad, becoming an efficient member of the European Union and NATO, strengthening Lithuania’s profile in the world and disseminating values of democracy, tolerance and dialogue.

Lithuania participates in activities of approximately 60 organisations. It is active in global organisations such as the UN and its bodies, specialised agencies and committees. In 2007 Lithuania chaired the ECOSOC. The ECOSOC (the UN Economic and Social Council) is the third most important UN body after the General Assembly and Security Council. The main activity of the Council is solving economic and social issues. The Council promotes better standards of life as well as economic and social progress. It solves international economic, social and health issues, supports cooperation in the areas of education and culture, observes human rights and fundamental freedoms, and provides recommendations on these issues to other member states, as well as the whole UN system.

Lithuania also has gained authority in a number of European organisations: the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Lithuania is to chair OSCE in 2011) and the Council of Europe (CoE), as well as in regional organisations – the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Baltic Council (BC) and the Nordic-Baltic 8 (NB8) – where Lithuania is building its regional identity.

Lithuania contributes to peacekeeping efforts around the world and in the region, increasing security and stability, strengthening human rights and democracy, providing solutions to global and regional problems, reducing poverty and illiteracy, supporting sustainable development around the world and in the region, supporting environmental protection, and promoting dialogue among civilisations. The policy of “effective multilateralism” plays a significant role in the foreign policy of the European Union.

Lithuania decided to stand as a candidate to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the year 2014-2015. The reasons for pursuing the non-permanent UN Security Council membership include Lithuania striving to demonstrate a mature and active foreign policy, contribute to the solution of international peace and security issues, strengthen the international authority of Lithuania and establish Lithuania as a visible and influential state in the region.

On the basis of bilateral co-operation, countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are of primary importance for Lithuania. These countries have problems with their democratic development and Lithuanian assistance is welcomed. The diplomacy of the country has a good chance to become a key moderator between the West and former Soviet Union countries, mainly because it is already in the West and still feels the spirit of former USSR.

There are two issues, Belarus and Kaliningrad, which simply cannot be resolved without participation of Lithuania. Lithuanian interest recently became the central point in relations with Russia, and it once again shows how important Lithuania is.

Articles on Lithuania’s economy will be presented later in the journal. However, a quick summary would be to say it is still growing.

Thus, Lithuania is not as small as many think.

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Some more things, maybe not significant for business, but that maters very much for Lithuanian spirit: Lithuania lies in the center of Europe, which is 25 km north of Vilnius, Lithuanian is an archaic language most similar to Sanskrit, Lithuania was sometimes considered the last European pagan country but today is a fortress of Christianity hosting the Hill of Crosses. And one last, but not the least: basketball. The American invention is a national sport in Lithuania, everyone who plays basketball knows it is a great power in this sport.

 By: Egidijus Vareikis