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MAJORITY OF LITHUANIAN CITIZENS APPROVE OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

62,5% of all respondents in the country approve of Lithuania’s support and sharing its experience with less developed countries in the world.

Such policy is positively estimated most by males and females with higher education and younger than 29 years of age comprising 75,4 %, by inhabitants of big towns in Lithuania comprising 64,8 %, and particularly by students and pupils comprising even 78,94%.

These are results of a survey conducted in June by Market and Opinion Research Centre "Vilmorus Ltd" commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The majority of respondents approved of Lithuania’s support to countries on  African continent comprising 49,3 %, among which the majority of females comprising 50,9 % and youth in the institutions of secondary education comprising 55,0 %.  20,6 % of respondents approved of support to Afghanistan and 11,4 % respondents - of support to Iraq.

18,7 % of respondents in the country proposed to support Lithuania’s neighbouring country Belarus, 15,8 %  - Ukraine, 15,6 % - Kaliningrad Region of Russian Federation, 12,6 % - Georgia and Armenia and 6,8 % - Moldova.

1001 respondents from 19 towns and 60 villages of Lithuania were interviewed during the survey.

In 2004 Lithuania along with other new Member States of the European Union joined the international donor community. Donor status implies that while taking part in international Development Cooperation Policy, Lithuania undertakes additional obligations to finance its implementation.

Actively taking part in the EU Development Cooperation Policy, Lithuania has to achieve its long term goal of better balancing the EU support branches and adjusting it to the interests of Lithuania. The most attention is paid to the neighbouring Eastern European countries and the Southern Caucasus. 

In 2005 the implementation of Lithuanian Development Cooperation policy was allotted 0,5 m. Lt from the state budget.

In 2006 to this goal Lithuania allotted 2,44 m. Lt, out of which 1,44 m. Lt was allotted to Afghanistan and 1 m. Lt to other priority countries.  In 2007 the implementation of Development Cooperation Policy was allotted 9 m. Lt, out of which 4 m. Lt to Afghanistan and 5 m. Lt to other priority countries.

Lithuania contributes to the EU Eastern Neighbourhood Policy seeking greater security, stability and democracy development in the East. In the EU eastern neighbours Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are countries given priority in Lithuanian Development Cooperation Policy. Thus Lithuania aids the solution of problems, which are faced by the countries in this region.