From Lithuania...

New Prime Minister and Cabinet Sworn in

Source for this news article was the ELTA News Agency.

President Valdas Adamkus signed a decree approving the members of the Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas on June 1st and the new ninth government was sworn in during ceremonies on June 11th .

The new Prime Minister of Lithuania, Rolandas Paksas comes from Telšiai in western Lithuania. Born in 1956, he studied at the Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute (presently Vilnius Technical University), which awarded him a diploma in industrial and civil engineering in 1979. Later he undertook studies at the Civil Aviation Academy in former Leningrad (St. Petersburg). He worked there as a pilot-instructor until 1985.

During 1985 to 1992 Paksas led the S. Darius and S. Girėnas flying club and aviation unit under the Voluntary Defense Service (SKAT). His achievements in aviation included multiple champion titles in the nationals for acrobatic flying and twice champion in the former USSR. Paksas switched to the private sector assuming the role of president in Restako construction firm from 1992 to 1997.

In the 1997 local elections, Paksas won the seat of Vilnius mayor and has maintained an excellent reputation as city leader. Paksas is married with two children.

Paksas outlined a new government program maintaining that his predecessor Gediminas Vagnorius' Cabinet would "serve as groundwork" for a new program, but insisted it includes modifications related to liberalization of the business environment and export of Lithuanian products especially agriculture products. Paksas is also resolved to revise budget expenditure and plans to order a State audit. According to Paksas, the basic concern of the new government should be formation of the most favorable conditions for the growth of the national economy.

His concerns also included the necessity to increase the number of workplaces especially in rural areas, developing self-governance as wide as possible, and to make the government closer to the people. Paksas said the formal institutions should raise the degree of co-ordination in their actions and do their best to make Lithuania's people feel more secure. During the swearing in ceremony, Paksas thanked everybody including the opposition, which criticized his program. The Premier admitted that the program lacked concrete details; however, he vowed to provide for specifics during the planning of government activities.

The Premier was quoted as saying that with slightly more than a year left before next parliamentary polls the existing ministries should not be merged or reformed otherwise. Paksas replaced seven ministers. The posts of the different ministries are as follows:

Finance Minister – incumbent Secretary of Finance Ministry Jonas Lionginas, replacing Algirdas Semėta.

Economy Minister -- the former governor of Property Bank, Eugenijus Maldeikis, who replaced Vincas Babilius.

Public Administration Reforms and Municipalities Minister -- Sigitas Kaktys, replacing Kestutis Skrebys.

Justice Minister -- the incumbent Justice vice-minister Gintaras Balčiunas, who replaced Vytautas Pakalniškis.

Interior Minister -- former Chief Commissioner of Vilnius city police Česlovas Blažys, who replaced Stasys Sedbaras.

Health Minister -- Raimundas Alekna, replacing former ministry head Mindaugas Stankevičius.

Culture Minister -- former program director under Open Society Fund, restoration expert Artūras Bėkšta, replacing Saulius Šaltenis.

Seven ministers retained their posts from the former Cabinet. These ministers are: Algirdas Saudargas as Foreign Minister; Defense Minister Česlovas Stankevičius; Minister for Social Care and Labour Irena Degutienė; Minister of Transport Rimantas Didžiokas; Education Minister Kornelijus Platelis; Minister of Agriculture Edvardas Makelis; and Environment Minister Danius Lygis. These officials were the members of ex-Premier Gediminas Vagnorius’s team.

In addition to these changes, Paksas appointed his former advisor in the Vilnius municipality, journalist Dalia Kutraitė-Giedraitienė to the office of government chancellor, the press service of government reported to ELTA. Another appointment was that of the Prime Minister's spokesperson -- well-known journalist Jonas Čekuolis.