Programme - IV Convention of Honorary Consuls of Lithuania

July 14, Wednesday


N. B. Separate programme for the Spouses of the Honorary Consuls (pages 8-9)

7.45 – 8.30 Registration of participants

Conference centre of Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva, Alfa Hall

Konstitucijos Av. 20, Vilnius

8.30 – 8.50 Opening of the Convention

N.B. The Opening will start at 8.30 sharp !

Welcome speech by H.E. Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania

Introductory speech by H.E. Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Minister of Foreign Affairs

8.50 – 9.20 Family photo

9.20 – 13.00 Presentations on Lithuania’s economy:

Moderator: Mrs. Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs

9.25 – 9.45 Presentation by Mr. Dainius Kreivys, Minister of Economy

9.45 – 9.55 Address by Mr. Arūnas Štaras, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications

9.55 – 10.25 Questions

10.25 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 11.40 Lithuania's Economic Outlook: Drivers and Constraints

Speaker: Mrs. Jekaterina Rojaka, Chief Economist of DnB NORD Group

11.40 – 12.00 Questions

12.00 – 12.40 Lithuanian Energy and Transport: the Global Rises or Crises - Are there any opportunities for us?

Speaker: Mr. Vytautas Naudužas, Ambassador for Energy and Transport Policy Issues, Economic Security Policy department, MFA

12.40 – 13.00 Questions

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch hosted by H.E. Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Minister of Foreign Affairs
with participation of Mr. Dainius Kreivys, Minister of Economy

Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva restaurant

14.30 – 17.30 Meeting with associated business organizations

Moderator: Mr. Vytautas Naudužas, Ambassador for Energy and Transport Policy Issues, Economic Security Policy department, MFA

Presentations:

14.30 – 14.40 Lithuania. Video presentation.

14.40 – 14.55 Focused. Dynamic. Involving

Speaker: Mr. Mantas Nocius, Managing Director, „Invest Lithuania“

14.55 – 15.10 Exporting. Expanding. Exemplary

Speaker: Mr. Paulius Lukauskas, Managing Director, „Enterprise Lithuania“

15.10 – 15.30 Questions

15.30 – 15.45 Business networking through the Lithuanian diaspora and country affiliations

Speaker: Mr. Algimantas Akstinas, Director General, Lithuanian Business Confederation
ICC Lithuania

15.45 – 16.00 Some aspects of cooperation between businesses and Honorary Consuls for the benefit of the country’s industry modernization

Speaker: Dr. Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, Vice-President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK)

16.00 – 16.10 Questions

16.10 – 16.30 Coffee break

Opportunity to visit the exposition of business projects

16.30 – 16.45 Lithuanian Small and Medium Enterprises facing global economy – challenges and opportunities

Speaker: Mr Ilja Malkin, Member of the Board of the Lithuanian Business Employers’

Confederation

16.45 – 17.00 Questions

17.00 – 17.30 Tourism in Lithuania

Speakers: Mrs. Živilė Kesminienė, Head of Marketing and Communication Division of Lithuanian State Department of Tourism;

Mrs. Regina Sirusienė, President, Lithuanian Countryside Tourism Association

17.30 – 17.45 Questions

17.45 – 19.00 B2B Matchmaking event (Beta hall)

Visiting the exposition of business projects

July 15, Thursday

N.B. Spouses of the Honorary Consuls are welcome to join the programme at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) at 15.30

8.50 Arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

J. Tumo-Vaižganto Str. 2, College Hall

9.00 – 11.20 Consular assistance and cooperation with the Lithuanian Diaspora

Moderator: Mr. Šarūnas Adomavičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs

Presentations:

9.00 – 9.30 Consular assistance to Lithuanian citizens abroad

Speaker: Mr. Vytautas Pinkus, Director of the Consular Department, MFA

Participant: Mrs. Indrė Kairelytė, Chief Specialist of the International Law

Department, Ministry of Justice

9.30 – 10.00 Questions

10.00 – 10.30 Coffee break

10.30 – 10.50 Cooperation with Lithuanian Diaspora

Speaker: Mr. Arvydas Daunoravičius, Director of the Department of Lithuanians Living Abroad, MFA

10.50 – 11.20 Questions

11.20 – 13.30 Free time

(Possibility to have a lunch in the MFA restaurant)

13.30 – 15.00 Meetings with the staff of regional departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

15.00 Departure for the National Gallery of Art (NGA)

Konstitucijos Av. 22, Vilnius

(transportation will be provided from J. Tumo-Vaižganto Str. 2, MFA)

15.30 – 17.30 Public Diplomacy

Moderator: Mrs. Ina Marčiulionytė, Ambassador at Large, MFA

15.35 – 15.50 Presenting Lithuania’s Culture to the world

Welcome speech by Mr. Arūnas Gelūnas, Minister of Culture

15.50 – 16.05 Questions

Presentations:

16.05 – 16.20 Vilnius. Culture. Tourism

Speaker: Mr. Gintautas Babravičius, Vice-Mayor of Vilnius city

16.20 – 16.35 Questions

16.35 – 16.55 Branding Lithuania

Speaker: Mr. Evaldas Ignatavičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs

16.55 – 17.10 Questions

17.10 – 17.25 “Hansa Kaunas 2011” (Slide show presentation)

Speaker: Mr. Andrius Žiurauskas, Art Director of the public institution “Hansa Kaunas 2011”

17.30 – 19.00 Viewing exhibition in the NGA

Short introductory on NGA, exposition and activities

19.00 – 21.00 Reception hosted by Mr. Šarūnas Adomavičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs

National Gallery of Art, Konstitucijos Av. 22

July 16, Friday

Business-cognitive trips to the regions of Lithuania

for Honorary Consuls and their Spouses

1. TRIP TO VAZGAIKIEMIS (region of Prienai)

8.15 Meeting at the main entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

J. Tumo Vaižganto Str. 2

8.30 Departure

10.00 Arrival to Jieznas

Visit to the LLC Doleta, specialised producing of windows, bay-windows, curtain walling and doors; the enterprise Lietuviškas midus, production of a traditional Lithuanian beverage mead; guided tour of the leisure centre Visuomenės harmonizavimo parkas in the territory of the picturesque regional park of the Nemunas loops; presentations by representatives of Prienai and Birštonas municipalities, etc.

21.00 Arrival to Vilnius, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

End of programme.

Contact persons: Regimantas Jablonskas, mob. 8 698 57 343

Hilda Griškevičienė, mob. 8 640 47 788

Ramutė Jablonskienė, mob. 8 673 70 760

2. TRIP TO TAURAGĖ

7.15 Meeting at the main entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

J. Tumo Vaižganto Str. 2

7.30 Departure

10.30 Arrival to Tauragė

Visit to the most successful enterprises of the region, meetings with representatives of municipalities of the region, cultural programme in the Pagramantis regional park and Balskų dam, etc.

23.30 Arrival to Vilnius, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

End of programme.

Contact persons: Eglė Jasiūnienė, mob. 8 642 17 487

Gediminas Levickis, mob. 8 642 18 527

Rūta Rudinskaitė, mob. 8 642 14 065

3. TRIP TO ŠIAULIAI AND RADVILIŠKIS

7.15 Meeting at the main entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

J. Tumo Vaižganto Str. 2

7.30 Departure

9.30 Arrival to Šiauliai

Visit to the places of interest of Šiauliai, the famous Hill of Crosses’; the enterprise Rūta specialising in production of sweets or the beer producer Gubernija; guided tours of Ch. Frenkel villa in Šiauliai; Burbiškis manor in Radviliškis, meetings with businessmen and representatives of Šiauliai and Radviliškis municipalities, etc.

22.30 Arrival to Vilnius, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

End of programme.

Contact persons: Agnė Busilaitė, mob. 8 642 13 602

Rūta Genienė, mob. 8 642 11 467 Ingrida Darašaitė, mob. 8 642 15 143

4. TRIP TO ALYTUS

8.15 Meeting at the main entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

J. Tumo Vaižganto Str. 2

8.30 Departure

10.00 Arrival to Alytus

Visit to the most successful enterprises of the Alytus region, including the famous vine producer Alita, presentation by Alytus city municipality, visiting of the arena of the European Basketball Championship, the construction site of the Millennium Bridge and other objects, cultural programme, etc.

22.15 Arrival to Vilnius, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

End of programme.

Contact persons: Laura Tupe, mob. 8 642 13 036

Justas Vaišnoras, mob. 8 642 15 134

Artūras Šilanskas, mob. 8 642 11 325

PROGRAMME

for the Spouses’ of Honorary Consuls

July 14, Wednesday

8:50 Meeting at the main entrance of the Vilnius Gallery of Art

Chodkevičiai Palace, Didžioji Str. 4.

9:00-9:45 Lecture-video presentation of the works and projects carried out by the Pranas Gudynas, Centre for Restoration of Lithuanian Art Museum

Meeting with restoration specialists of the centre. Live demonstration of restoration techniques

9:45-10:00 Demonstration of Pieter Snayers’ picture “Battle of Kircholm”

(oil on canvas, 145x240), picture restored by the specialists of the Pranas Gudynas Centre of Restoration

10:00-10:15 Walk on foot to the Church of St Michael

Short panoramic view of the cluster of three churches – St Ann’s, Bernardinai’ and St Michael’s

10:15-10:35 Visiting museum of Sacral Art in the Church of St Michael

Šv. Mykolo str. 9

10:35-10:50 Walk on foot to the restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

10:50-12:20 Guided tour of the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Presentation of the reconstruction process.

Visiting the expositions in the nearby museum of Applied Art:

"Gothic. Renaissance. Baroque – Treasures of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania" and "Artefacts from the Royal Palace of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania“.

Coffee and sandwiches in the Museum of Applied Art

12:20 Departure by bus to the Manor of Užutrakis in Trakai

13:10-14:40 Visit to the Manor of Užutrakis

Presentation of the restoration process and the restored premises of the Manor of Užutrakis. Visiting the expositions

14:40 Departure by bus to the restaurant of Karaite dishes “Kybynlar” in Trakai

14:50-16:10 Lunch at the restaurant “Kybynlar”

16:10 Departure to Vilnius

17:00 Arrival to Vilnius (Cathedral Square)

N.B.

- On July 15, Thursday, Spouses of Honorary Consuls are invited to join the main programme in
the National Gallery of Art (NGA) at 15.30 hrs (Konstitucijos Av. 22) and the reception at 19.00 hrs.

- On July 16, Friday,the Spouses of Honorary Consuls are welcome to join the trips to provinces.

Contact persons: Eglė Jasiūnienė, mob. 8 642 17 487

Lina Kačerauskienė, mob. 8 642 12 073

List of participants

1. Mr. Haskaj KASTRIOT Albania

2. Mr. Sergio Hector NUNES Argentina

3. Mr. Jose Ruben REPSYS Argentina

4. Mr. Levon SAGHATELYAN Armenia

5. Mr. Ulrich SALBURG Austria

6. Mr. Raoul Peter KÄUFFLER Austria

7. Mr. Johann CHRISTOF Austria

8. Mr. Francois-Xavier NIEBERDING Belgium

9. Mr. Jean J.A.C.M.G. HAUS Belgium

10. Mr. Francisco Ricardo BLAGEVITCH Brazil

11. Ms. Nejolla KORRIS Canada

12. Mr. Jose Felizardo Cuarto FIGUEROA

BARRUECO Chile

13. Ms. Laima Grigaliunas de DIDZIULIS Colombia

14. Mr. Davor BEGIĆ Croatia

15. Mr. Christis CHRISTOFOROU Cyprus

16. Mr. Petr SLAČALA Czech Republic

17. Ms. Eva CASPERSEN Denmark

18. Mr. Martin DUUS Denmark

19. Mr. Hans-Erik MØLLER-HANSEN Denmark

20. Mr. Markus AALTONEN Finland

21. Mr. Mauri Casimir ELOVAINIO Finland

22. Mr. Aulis Tapio TINNILÄ Finland

23. Mr. Pekka Juhani SITARI Finland

24. Ms. Anne-Marie Jeanne GOUSSARD France

25. Mr. Pierre Arnold Camille MINONZIO France

26. Mr. Gérard de LAITRE France

27. Ms. Milda Gabrielle Georgina Ona PERUCHE Arquer France

28. Mr. Shewak Ram MIRPURI Gana

29. Mr. Boris GAMREKELI Georgia

30. Mr. Bernd Wilfried MOSER Germany

31. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hermann VON STETTEN Germany

32. Mr. Achim NAUMANN Germany

33. Mr. Raj Sitaldas MOTWANI Hong Kong

34. Mr. Peter VADASZ Hungary

35. Mr. Om Prakash LOHIA India

36. Mr. Sugihono KADARISMAN Indonesia

37. Mr. Haim ARIEL Israel

38. Mr. Amos EIRAN Israel

39. Mr. Amnon DOTAN Israel

40. Mr. Guido LEVERA Italy

41. Mr. Massimo CUGUSI Italy

42. Mr. Massimo MANUELLI Italy

43. Mr. Alessandro PALMIGIANO Italy

44. Mr. Enrico PALASCIANO Italy

45. Ms. Lois Cecelia LAKE-SHERWOOD Jamaica

46. Mr. Ahmed Helmi Munieb ARMOUSH Jordan

47. Mr. Audrius JOZĖNAS Kazakhstan

48. Mr. Stanislovas VIDUGIRIS Kyrgyz Republic

49. Mr. Maen Salman HUNEIDI Lebanon

50. Mr. Markus Antonius KEEL Liechtenstein

51. Mr. Robert WAGENER Luxembourg

52. Mr. Marjan STOJMENOV Macedonia

53. Mr. Hong Lee PEE Malaysia

54. Mr. Anthony G. ZAHRA Malta

55. Mr. Ronen Vaisser LANDAU Mexico

56. Mr. Chinbat KHOROLSUREN Mongolia

57. Mr. Goodie Minaborae IBRU Nigeria

58. Mr. Herman Kasper Adriaan DE LANGE Netherlands

59. Mr. Gerrit ZANDSTEEG Netherlands

60. Mr. Ulf Halvor HALLAN Norway

61. Mr. Carl Thomas CARLSTEN Norway

62. Mr. Anees Issa Al ZADJALI Oman

63. Mr. Mohammed Masud KHAN Pakistan

64. Mr. Eduardo Alberto PAŠKEVIČIUS Peru

65. Mr. Romualdas Gintaras VILDZIUS Philippines

66. Mr. Wiesław WIERZCHOŚ Poland

67. Mr. Benedykt DUBSKI Poland

68. Mr. Jerzy WCISLO Poland

69. Mr. Jorge Antas de BARROS Portugal

70. Ms. Tatjana MUNINA Russia

71. Mr. Andy LIM Singapor

72. Mr. Raymond JOFFE South Afrika

73. Mr. Miguel Vila REGARD Spain

74. Mr. Andres Fornes REDONDO Spain

75. Mr. Mohamed Ansar JABIR Sri Lanka

76. Mr. Knut Evert GRAHN Sweden

77. Mr. Ingmar INGSTAD Sweden

78. Mr. Lennart Svante Wilhelm MALMGREN Sweden

79. Ms. Birgitta Elisabeth JAKOBSSON EKBLOM Sweden

80. Mr. Gintautas BERTAŠIUS Switzerland

81. Mr. Michel SOGNY Switzerland

82. Mr. Graziano Isaia Giuseppe PEDROJA Switzerland

83. Mr. Nawar SUKKAR Syria

84. Mr. Berat TUNAKAN Turkey

85. Mr. Vitaliy ANTONOV Ukraine

86. Mr. Sergej PETRIČENKO Ukraine

87. Mr. Viktor POPOV Ukraine

88. Mr. William Harper SINNERTON United Kingdom

89. Mr. Keith Reginald STOKES-SMITH United Kingdom

90. Ms. Marisa Blayeska Vaz LEONAVIČIENĖ Uruguay

91. Mrs. Krista BARD USA

92. Mr. Stanley BALZEKAS USA

93. Ms. Ingrida (Gertrude) BUBLYS USA

94. Mr. Vytautas Victor LAPATINSKAS USA

95. Mr. Randolph Latourette MILLER USA

96. Mr. Rimas Antanas ČESONIS USA

97. Mr. Dennis Lee GARRISON USA

98. Ms. Daiva Valeria ČEKANAUSKAS USA

99. Mr. Algis ZAPARACKAS USA

100 Kestutis Paul ZYGAS USA

101. Mr. Boris PETRASEVICIUS Venezuela

Contact persons

Hilda Griškevičienė - 8 640 47 788

Irena Ūsaitė - 8 699 44 977

Regimantas Jablonskas- 8 698 57 343

Eglė Jasiūnienė - 8 642 17 487

Gediminas Levickis - 8 642 18 527

Rūta Rudinskaitė - 8 642 14 065

Juozas Steponėnas - 8 642 11 517

Ingrida Darašaitė - 8 642 15 143

Eglė Gintautaitė - 8 642 11 074

Ministry of Foreign Affairs cordially thanks the Ministry of Economy

for the contribution in organising the programme of the first day of Convention, July 14, 2010.

Sincere thanks to the authorities of Alytus, Šiauliai, Radviliškis, Tauragė, Birštonas, Prienai cities and their associated business organizations for the business-cognitive trips on July 16, 2010.

14/07/2010 - Address by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the Fourth Convention of Honorary Consuls of Lithuania

Distinguished Honorary Consuls, Dear Friends of Lithuania!


This is the fourth convention which has brought you together in Vilnius. I know that for you such meetings are intensive working sessions: you not only exchange information about the work done, but share ideas and inspiration for fresh initiatives. I would say that this is the best time for new beginnings.

The economic difficulties that emerged in Europe have made Lithuania start doing its overdue homework of implementing reforms in social welfare, education, energy, and other areas. We should be proud that we are capable of dealing with our problems on our own and that our international partners value it by giving us higher ratings and more investments.

In great part, this is also the result of your work. In many cases, it is you the honorary consuls who inform our foreign partners about business and investment opportunities in Lithuania. I am sure that you will also share with them our most recent achievements: the introduction of market in the electricity sector, the passing of anti-corruption laws that make economic crimes more punishable, create a more transparent environment for local and foreign businesses.

It is no secret that the economic downturn has forced us to reduce the staff in some embassies. I am therefore happy and proud that we have you, our volunteer friends, who are strongly committed to keeping the interests of Lithuania and Lithuanian émigrés intact. Your personal initiative and dedication are greatly important and appreciated.

I believe that one person can make a difference and achieve many accomplishments. So even if you are the single representative of Lithuania in a large country, we need your work and your voice.

Many of you, even those without Lithuanian roots, maintain close contacts with Lithuanians residing in your country and with their organizations. I am grateful for your efforts and support to our fellow Lithuanians.

I have no doubt that you will continue to contribute in a major way to strengthening cultural ties between Lithuanians and other nations, which will help preserve our national identity in far-away corners of the world.

When you gather to such conventions or when you work with Lithuanian institutions and non-governmental organizations, you are introduced to many different ideas about presenting Lithuania, its culture, the economy, education, and investment projects to the world.

I know no one can tell better than you which of the proposed projects is the most effective and what action should be taken to promote Lithuania.

Distinguished Honorary Consuls! There are 166 of you around the world, while Lithuania has only over forty embassies abroad. It means that you represent Lithuania more broadly and that your contacts are wider spread.

You can give advice to Lithuanian diplomats on how to establish stronger political, economic and social ties with prominent and influential people of your country and how to make Lithuania visible and well heard.

You have Lithuania's full confidence and we know that you work very hard. As I say thank-you for your efforts and devotion.

You are men and women of vision and commitment who understand the word "honorary" not as a mark of distinction but as personal responsibility and dedication.

I wish you fruitful discussions and further determination to act on behalf of Lithuania abroad.

Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania

IV CONVENTION OF HONORARY CONSULS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA - VILNIUS

[do Jornal]: Verslo Zinios – Notícias de Negócios
QUINTA FEIRA
15 de julho de 2010 – Nr.130 (3282)

OS CÔNSULES HONORÁRIOS PODEM DAR UM EMPURRÃOZINHO NO TREM DA EXPORTAÇÃO.
Asta Serenaite
asta.serenaite@verslozinios.lt

 

Os cônsules honorários da Lituânia reunidos em Vilnius não poupam elogios ao governo que está tentando sair do pântano dos tempos difíceis, mas observam que parte dos problemas tanto internos, quanto externos do país, continuam complicados. Para resolver, pelo menos parte deles, os cônsules honorários podem ajudar.

 

Neste ano pela quarta vez, os cônsules honorários reunidos em Vilnius, no encontro de três dias discutem a possibilidade de parcerias na expansão das exportações do país, no conhecimento da Lituânia no mundo, no intercâmbio científico. Os cônsules visitarão Siauliai, Alytus e os distritos de Prienai e Taurage onde se encontrarão com os empresários locais.
Os representantes do governo da Lituânia e empresários não escondem que em tempos difíceis estes representantes do país são um forte apoio para o Estado e acreditam em sua ajuda para sair do buraco dos tempos difíceis.
„Na minha opinião, os cônsules honorários nos vários países fazem um enorme trabalho e ajudam a Lituânia a encontrar contatos empresariais, novos investimentos – e é o que agora falta para a Lituânia. O que as autoridades estão fazendo – dando passos acertados, mas, sem contatos pessoais é impossível encontrar tais investimentos. E estas pessoas são conhecidas em seus países, suas opiniões são levadas em conta“, esta é a importância dos cônsules honorários, ressalta Vladas Bumelis, diretor geral da empresa de biotecnologia e farmácia, sociedade anônima de capital fechado „Sicor Biotech“.

 

Idéias sem dinheiro

 

Os próprios cônsules honorários elogiam as medidas do país afetado pela crise, para reerguer-se. Eva Caspersen, consulesa honorária da Dinamarca chamou de heróica a decisão do país em cortar despesas, que segundo ela, diferentemente da Grécia e da Espanha, por si só tomou estas difíceis decisões, sem esperar que a situação se tornasse incontrolável.
Ainda assim, segundo os participantes, o país tem uma grande quantidade de problemas.
Ingmar Ingstad, cônsul honorário na Suécia ressalta que apesar do país ter uma estratégia clara visando tornar-se centro de prestação de serviços da Europa Setentrional e acreditar atrair o máximo possível de investimentos, as condições para as pequenas e médias empresas aqui são bastante difíceis.
Carl Thomas Carlsten, cônsul honorário na Noruega, incentiva o governo a aumentar a transparência do sistema fiscal e resolver outros problemas muito dolorosos como a” evasão” de mentes e braços.
“Os lituanos em vez de trabalharem aqui, colhem morangos na Noruega. Verdade que lá pelo trabalho eles recebem mais. Pela mesma razão deixam a Lituânia, pessoas com ensino superior. Na Noruega há muitos médicos que vieram da Lituânia. Eles se estabeleceram e trouxeram as famílias”, - diz ele e acrescenta que pessoas graduadas são um dos mais importantes trunfos do país e por esta razão é necessário zelar por elas.
Os cônsules ressaltam que ainda é delicado o problema do conhecimento sobre o país.
“A maioria já sabe que a Lituânia tem 1000 anos, mas na mídia internacional começou a brilhar só há 20 anos. Nos últimos 10 anos – um tanto mais intensamente. Ainda há um longo percurso pela frente para dar maior visibilidade ao país” – diz Francisco Ricardo Blagevitch, cônsul honorário da Lituânia, no Brasil. Ele acrescenta que cerca de 95% dos brasileiros não conhecem a Lituânia.
Segundo Blagevitch uma importante pergunta é como fazer a Lituânia não só conhecida, mas também alçar o nome do país como um país de peso, tornar o país um mercado atraente. Ele incentiva criar um banco de idéias e ele mesmo sugere algumas idéias para aumentar o conhecimento sobre o país sem gastar dinheiro. Segundo ele, em primeiro lugar, todos deveriam falar sobre a Lituânia, qualquer empresa sediada no exterior, empresários. Ferramenta muito importante, afirma ele, é a mídia.
“Lembro-me quando o embaixador da Lituânia na Argentina,Vaclovas Salkauskas esteve no encontro com o presidente do Brasil, (Luis Inácio Lula da Silva). Eu tinha um boné com motivos lituanos, então pedi para o presidente ajudar a difundir o país e colocar o boné. Ele concordou e as fotos saíram em toda imprensa. Quanto custou? Um boné. Imaginemos se Barack Obama ou Mandela, pusessem um boné igual” – ri o cônsul.
Segundo Sr.Carlsen, as pessoas pouco sabem sobre a Lituânia e sua história, até mesmo os mais próximos, como os noruegueses. “Em cada comunidade com a qual trabalho, tento ser advogado da Lituânia e dizer onde está este país, qual é sua população, como é sua cultura” – diz ele.

 

A Lituânia, atualmente, tem ao todo 166 cônsules honorários em 74 países. Eles financiam suas atividades e mantêm os consulados. O encontro de cônsules honorários é em Vilnius, de três em três anos, desde 2001.

 

[Jornal] Verslo Žinios – Info
A ajuda dos cônsules honorários

• Os cônsules honorários ajudam a buscar relações políticas, econômicas e culturais entre os Estados.
• Podem ajudar os lituanos em dificuldades, especialmente em países em que não há embaixadas da Lituânia.
• Eles apresentam a Lituânia como país de turismo, muitas vezes apresentam a cultura, a arte e a história da Lituânia.
• Eles podem colaborar muito na organização de intercâmbio de estudantes, missões comerciais, visitas oficiais e eventos nos seus países. 
• Os cônsules honorários podem ser intermediadores entre associações comerciais de empresas no exterior e na Lituânia, ajudar a ampliar a colaboração entre entidades empresariais e não empresariais

Fonte: Ministério de Relações Exteriores.

 

Trad.Lúcia M. Jodelis Butrimavicius
São Paulo – Brasil
24/07/2010