Despite the economic crisis, Lithuania remains an attractive country for asylum seekers from the third countries and for illegal immigrants hoping to enter the other countries of the European Union through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. “During the last year, 320 foreigners were delivered to the Aliens Register Centre of the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior, 218 whereof were considered as the illegal immigrants. 139 foreigners were repatriated”, the Viceminister of the Interior Mr. Stanislovas Liutkevièius noted.

Today the Minister Raimundas Palaitis met with the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania H. E. Anne Elizabeth Derse. The Minister introduced the current structure of the Ministry of the Interior, its strategy and activities as well as the reform of the spheres within the competence of the Ministry: abolition of District Head Administrations, the closedown of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, the endeavor to legitimate the direct Mayor elections, etc.
The Ambassador was very pleased with the ongoing cooperation between both countries and stressed that Lithuania is one of the strongest partners of the USA among the other EU members. “I am so eager to start my work and to strengthen our solid cooperation even more”, the Ambassador noted at the end of the meeting in Lithuanian language.

Today the Minister of the Interior Mr. Raimundas Palaitis met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Lithuania H.E. Mr. Omer Altug. The Ambassador was truly delighted that both countries are able to communicate with each other without political obstacles and to ensure mutual cooperation in many spheres of activity. The Minister R. Palaitis expressed his gratitude for the introduction of visa free regime for Lithuanian citizens travelling to the Republic of Turkey on tourist purposes. However, the Ambassador noted that the system had been operated improperly. After that, Mr. Omer Altug ensured that abolition of visa regime is a fact while all misunderstandings are temporary.

Today the Emergency Management Commission under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Chairman – Minister of the Interior Raimundas Palaitis) declared that Lithuania had reached an epidemic level of the influenza virus A(H1N1). “The current situation requires more attention, however there is no need for declaring an emergency“, Minister R. Palaitis stated. We pay specific attention to all municipalities and take all necessary actions according to present situation“.

Today Mr. Raimundas Palaitis, the Minister of the Interior, met with H.E. Dr. Helmut Koller, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Lithuania. During this meeting the bilateral cooperation between both countries from the year of 1998 was discussed.

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