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Lietuvos Respublika Republic of Lithuania Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Tautos jėga vienybėje" "The strength of the nation lies in unity" Anthem: Tautiška giesmė Location of  Lithuania  (orange) – on the European continent  (camel & white) – in the European Union  (camel)                 [ Legend] Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Coat_of_Arms_of_Lithuania. ... The flag of Lithuania is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, green and red. ... Vytis. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... TautiÅ¡ka giesmÄ— is the national anthem of Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 710 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Capital (and largest city) Vilnius 54°41′N, 25°19′E Official languages Lithuanian Demonym Lithuanian Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Valdas Adamkus  -  Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas Independence from the Russian Empire (1918)   -  Lithuania mentioned February 14, 1009   -  Kingdom July 6, 1253   -  Personal union with Poland February 2, 1386   -  Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth declared 1569   -  Russian/Prussian occupation 1795   -  Independence declared February 16, 1918   -  1st Soviet occupation August 3, 1940   -  2nd Soviet occupation 1944   -  Independence restored March 11, 1990  EU accession 1 May 2004 Area  -  Total 65,200 km² (123rd) 25,173 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1,35% Population  -  2007 estimate 3,369,600 (130th)  -  Density 52/km² (120th) 134/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate  -  Total $66 billion[1] (75th)  -  Per capita $19, 730 (49th) GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate  -  Total $35 billion (75th)  -  Per capita $12, 240 (53rd) Gini (2003) 36 (medium)  HDI (2007) ▲ 0.862 (high) (43rd) Currency Lithuanian litas (Lt) (LTL) Time zone EET (UTC+2)  -  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Internet TLD .lt1 Calling code +370 1 Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states. The Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublika) is a country variously defined as being part of Eastern or Northern Europe.[2] Situated along the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, sharing borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland, and the Russian exclave of the Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest. Lithuania is a member of NATO and of the European Union. The population is 3.4 million, the largest city and the capital is Vilnius. Not to be confused with capitol. ... The earliest evidence of inhabitants in present-day Lithuania dates back to 10,000 BC. Between 3,000–2,000 BC, the cord-ware culture people spread over a vast region of eastern Europe, between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula River in the West and the Moscow-Kursk line... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 560 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (794 × 850 pixel, file size: 511 KB, MIME type: image/png) The Grand Coat of arms of Vilnius File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not... Not to be confused with Vilnius city municipality. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). ... The following is a list of Lithuanian rulers — grand dukes, kings, and presidents — when Lithuania was a sovereign state or was regarded as a separate entity (i. ... President Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus (born Valdemaras Adamkevičius on November 3, 1926) is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. ... The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuanias government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament. ... Gediminas Kirkilas ( (help· info), b. ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 14: First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg. ... is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1386 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... is the 215th day of the year (216th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Austria Poland Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech   Rep. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 10,000 km² and 100,000 km². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... Countries by nominal GDP. Source: IMF (2005) This article includes a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... The litas (ISO currency code LTL, symbolized as Lt; plural litai or litų) is the official currency of Lithuania. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .lt is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Lithuania. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... In Lithuania City code consists of 2 digits for the towns with 6-digit numbering, smaller towns contain 3 digit code and 5-digit phone number, Vilnius has 7-digit number and one digit city code. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Statistical regions of Europe as delineated by the United Nations (UN definition of Eastern Europe marked red):  Northern Europe  Western Europe  Eastern Europe  Southern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current borders: Russia (dark orange), other countries formerly part of the USSR... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Baltic (disambiguation). ... D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian: , Kaliningradskaya Oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (, meaning amber region) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) on the Baltic coast. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Not to be confused with Vilnius city municipality. ... During the 1300s, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, as present-day Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Poland and Russia were territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the Lublin Union of 1569 Poland and Lithuania formed a new state: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was finally destroyed by its neighboring countries in 1795. Most of Lithuania's territory was annexed to Russian Empire, until the Act of Independence was signed on February 16, 1918, which declared re-establishment of a sovereign state. Between 1940 and 1945 Lithuania was occupied by several powers — Soviet Union, Nazi Germany. When World War II was near its end in 1944 and the Nazis retreated, Lithuania would again be merged into the Soviet Union. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its renewed independence. The Union of Lublin, painted by Jan Matejko The Union of Lublin (Belarusian: Лю́блінская ву́нія; Polish: Unia lubelska) - signed July 1, 1569 in Lublin, united the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into a single state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with official name: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów (The... Events January 11 - First recorded lottery in England. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Partitions of Poland (Polish Rozbiór or Rozbiory Polski) happened in the 18th century and ended the existence of a sovereign state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ... Facsimile of the Act of February 16 The Act of Independence of Lithuania (Lithuanian: ) or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Soviet Republic may refer to one of the following states. ... Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 signed by members of Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, proclaimed re-establishment of Lithuanias independence in March 11 1990. ... Present-day Lithuania has one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. Lithuania became a full member of the Schengen Agreement on 21 December 2007.[3] In 2009 Lithuania will celebrate the millennium of its name.  Implementing countries  Implementing through partnership with a signatory state  Members implementing from 21 December 2007 (overland borders and seaports) and 29 March 2008 (airports)  Members (not yet implemented)  Expressed interest in joining A monument to the Agreement in Schengen A typical Schengen border crossing without any border control post, just... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Contents 1 History 2 Politics 3 Counties, municipalities, and elderates 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 6.1 Ethnic composition 6.2 Religion 6.3 Health and welfare 6.4 Largest cities 7 Culture 8 See also 9 Notes and references 10 External links 10.1 Maps and GIS [edit] History Main article: History of Lithuania The first mention of Lithuania is found in a medieval German manuscript, the Quedlinburg Chronicle, on 14 February 1009. The Lithuanian lands were united by Mindaugas in 1236, and neighbouring countries referred to it as "the state of Lithuania". The official coronation of Mindaugas as King of Lithuania, on July 6, 1253, and the official recognition of Lithuanian statehood as the Kingdom of Lithuania.[4] This article discusses the history of Lithuania and of the Lithuanians. ... The name of Lithuania (Lithuanian: ) was first recorded in written sources in 1009 in chronicles of Quedlinburg (Latin: ). The Quedlinburg Chronicle recorded a Latinized Slavic form of the name Lietuva – Litua,[1] pronounced [litvā]. While it is clear the name originated in a Baltic language, scholars still debate the meaning... Quedlinburg is a town located near the Harz mountains, in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 14: First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg. ... Mindaugas King of Lithuania Mindaugas monument in Vilnius Mindaugas (approximate English transcription [ˈmın. ... King of Lithuania was the title of the ruler of Lithuania. ... is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... The Kingdom of Lithuania was the Lithuanian Monarchy, which existed in the 13th century, and was temporarily re-established in the 20th century. ... During the early period of the Gediminids (1316–1430), the state occupied the territories of present-day Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Poland and Russia.[5] By the end of the fourteenth century, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, it was also the only remaning pagan state left in europe.[6] The Grand Duchy of Lithuania stretched across a substantial part of Europe, from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Lithuanian nobility, city dwellers and peasants accepted Christianity in 1386, following Poland's offer of its crown to Jogaila, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Grand Duke Jogaila was crowned King of Poland on February 2, 1386. Lithuania and Poland were joined into a personal union, as both countries were ruled by the same Gediminids branch, the Jagiellon dynasty. Columns of Gediminas, symbol of the Gediminids. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... For other uses, see Baltic (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Black Sea (disambiguation). ... The fresco in the Vilnius Cathedral, dating to the Christianization of Lithuania The Christianization of Lithuania (Lithuanian: ) was the event that took place in 1387, initiated by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila with his cousin Vytautas, that signified the official adoption of Christianity by Lithuanians... For other monarchs with similar names , see Ladislaus Jagiello or Ladislaus. ... The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... For other monarchs with similar names , see Ladislaus Jagiello or Ladislaus. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1386 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Dynastic union be merged into this article or section. ... Columns of Gediminas, symbol of the Gediminids. ... The Jagiellons were a royal dynasty originating in Lithuania, which reigned in some Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century. ... In 1401, the formal union was dissolved as a result of disputes over legal terminology, and Vytautas, the cousin of Jogaila, became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Thanks to close cooperation, the armies of Poland and Lithuania achieved a great victory over the Teutonic Knights in 1410 at the Battle of Grunwald, the largest battle in medieval Europe. Vytautas the Great - engraving of XVI ct. ... For other monarchs with similar names , see Ladislaus Jagiello or Ladislaus. ... For the state, see Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. ... Combatants Kingdom of Poland Grand Duchy of Lithuania Teutonic Order and Mercenaries and Various Knights from the rest of Europe Commanders WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw II JagieÅ‚Å‚o, Vytautas the Great Ulrich von Jungingen† Strength 39,000 27,000 Casualties Unknown 8,000 dead 14,000 captured The Battle of Grunwald... A royal crown had been bestowed upon Vytautas in 1429 by Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor, but Polish magnates prevented his coronation by seizing the crown as it was being brought to him. A new crown was ordered from Germany and another date set for the coronation, but a month later Vytautas died as the result of an accident. Vytautas the Great - engraving of XVI ct. ... Sigismund, aged approximately 50, depicted by unknown artist in the 1420s — the only contemporary portrait. ... As a result of the growing centralised power of the Grand Principality of Moscow, in 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single state called the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As a member of the Commonwealth, Lithuania retained its institutions, including a separate army, currency and statutory law which was digested in three Statutes of Lithuania.[7] In 1795, the joint state was dissolved by the third Partition of the Commonwealth, which forfeited its lands to Russia, Prussia and Austria, under duress. Over ninety percent of Lithuania was incorporated into the Russian Empire and the remainder into Prussia. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Statutes of Lithuania (Lithuanian Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės statutai, Polish Statuty litewskie in Belarusian: Статуты Вялікага княства Літоўскага) were a 16th century collection of all the legislation of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy and its successor, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a multinational European state that existed from 1240 to 1795. ... The Partitions of Poland (Polish Rozbiór or Rozbiory Polski) happened in the 18th century and ended the existence of a sovereign state of Poland (or more correctly the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Many Jews fled Lithuania following persecution and followed opportunities that lay overseas. After a century of occupation, Lithuania re-established its independence on February 16, 1918. The official government from July through November 1918, was quickly replaced by a republican government. From the outset, the newly-independent Lithuania's foreign policy was dominated by territorial disputes with Poland (over the Vilnius region and the Suvalkai region) and with Germany (over the Klaipėda region or Memelland). Most obviously, the Lithuanian constitution designated Vilnius as the nation's capital, even though the city itself lay within Polish territory as a result of a Polish invasion. At the time, Poles and Jews made up a majority of the population of Vilnius, with a small Lithuanian minority of only 1%. In 1920 the capital was relocated to Kaunas, which was officially designated the provisional capital of Lithuania. (see History of Vilnius for more details).[8] is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Territory of Central Lithuania (green) created by Second Polish Republic in contravene of internatonal law as compared with other Lithuanian claims on territories of former GDL. Vilnius Region (Lithuanian: Vilniaus kraÅ¡tas, Polish: Wilenszczyzna) generally refers to the territory in the present day Lithuania and Belarus that was assigned to... Suvalkai region (Lithuanian Suvalkų kraÅ¡tas) is the Lithuanian name of the region of the city of SuwaÅ‚ki in north-eastern Poland. ... Historical map of Memelland and the northern part of East Prussia. ... Location Ethnographic region AukÅ¡taitija County Kaunas County Municipality Geographic coordinate system Number of elderates 11 General Information Capital of Kaunas County Kaunas city municipality Kaunas district municipality Population 361,274 in 2005 (2nd) First mentioned 1361 Granted city rights 1408 Kaunas ( (help· info), approximate English transcription [ˈkəʊ.nÉ™s... Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas Temporary capital or Provisional/Interim capital (Lithuanian Laikinoji sostinÄ—) was the official designation of the city of Kaunas in Lithuania during the interwar period. ... Map of Vilnius in 1576 // Middle ages The earliest settlements in the area of present Vilnius appear to be of mesolithic origin. ... In June 1940, around the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied and annexed Lithuania in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.[9][10] A year later it came under German occupation. After the retreat of the German armed forces (Wehrmacht), Lithuania was re-occupied by the Soviet Union in 1944. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Belligerent military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory belonging to a state passes to a hostile army. ... Ceremonies during the annexation of Hawaii. ... Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ... The straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Wehrmacht. ... From 1944–1952 approximately 100,000 Lithuanians participated in partisan fights against the Soviet system and the Red Army. More than twenty thousand partisans ("forest brothers") were killed in those battles and many more were arrested and deported to Siberian GULAGs. Lithuanian historians view this period as a war of independence against the Soviet Union. For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... The Forest Brothers (also: Brothers of the Forest, Forest Brethren; Forest Brotherhood; in Estonian: metsavennad, in Latvian meža brāļi, in Lithuanian miÅ¡ko broliai) were Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian partisans who waged guerrilla warfare against Soviet rule and for German Nazis during the Soviet invasion and occupation of... This article is about Siberia as a whole. ... Nikolai Getman Moving out. ... Map showing changes in the territory of Lithuania from the 13th century to the present day. During the Soviet and Nazi occupations between 1940 and 1944, Lithuania lost over 780,000 residents. Among them were around 190,000 (91% of pre-WWII community) of Lithuanian Jews, one of the highest total mortality rates of the Holocaust. An estimated 120,000 to 300,000[11] were killed by Soviets or exiled to Siberia, while others had been sent to German forced labour camps and/or chose to emigrate to western countries. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1519x1743, 573 KB) Summary Lithuania history: 13th age (Lithuania of the Mindaugas) 15th age (Vytautas the Great) Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and border between those countries Formal border of 1923 (Vilnius region was annexed by Poland) Current Republic of Lithuania Vector format... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1519x1743, 573 KB) Summary Lithuania history: 13th age (Lithuania of the Mindaugas) 15th age (Vytautas the Great) Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and border between those countries Formal border of 1923 (Vilnius region was annexed by Poland) Current Republic of Lithuania Vector format... National Socialism redirects here. ... Lithuanian Jews (known in Yiddish and Haredi English as Litvish (adjective) or Litvaks (noun)) are Ashkenazi Jews with roots in Lita, a region including not only present-day Lithuania but also Latvia, much of Belarus and the northeastern SuwaÅ‚ki region of Poland. ... For other uses, see Holocaust (disambiguation) and Shoah (disambiguation). ... Soviet redirects here. ... Exile (band) may refer to: Exile - The American country music band Exile - The Japanese pop music band Category: ... This article is about Siberia as a whole. ... Forty-six years of Soviet occupation ended with the advent of perestroika and glasnost in the late 1980s. Lithuania, led by Sąjūdis, an anti-communist and anti-Soviet independence movement, proclaimed its renewed independence on March 11, 1990. Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to do so, though Soviet forces unsuccessfully tried to suppress this secession. The Red Army attacked the Vilnius TV Tower on the night of January 13, 1991, an act that resulted in the death of 13 Lithuanian civilians.[12] The last Red Army troops left Lithuania on August 31, 1993 — even earlier than they departed from East Germany. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... //   (Russian: IPA: ) is politics of maximal openness, transparency of activity of all official (governmental) institutes, and freedom of information. ... S is the nineteenth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. ... Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of March 11 signed by members of Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, proclaimed re-establishment of Lithuanias independence in March 11 1990. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Vilnius TV Tower (Lithuanian: Vilniaus televizijos bokÅ¡tas) is a 326. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) is a series of events that occurred on January 11-13, 1991 in Vilnius, Lithuania. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the state which existed from 1949 to 1990. ... On February 4, 1991, Iceland became the first country to recognize Lithuanian independence. Sweden was the first to open an embassy in the country. The United States of America never recognized the Soviet claim to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Russia currently refuses to recognize the occupation of Lithuania, claiming that Lithuanians decided to join the Soviet Union voluntarily, although the Russia signed a treaty with Lithuania prior to the disintegration of the USSR which acknowledged Lithuania's forced loss of sovereignty at the hands of the Soviets, thereby recognizing the occupation. is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Lithuania joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991 and on May 31, 2001 it became the 141st member of the World Trade Organization. Since 1988, Lithuania has sought closer ties with the West, and so on January 4, 1994, it became the first of the Baltic states to apply for NATO membership. On March 29, 2004, it became a NATO member, and on May 1, 2004, Lithuania joined the European Union. UN and U.N. redirect here. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... WTO redirects here. ... is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... [edit] Politics Current President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus (right) meeting with Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney in Vilnius in May 2006. Main article: Politics of Lithuania Since Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990, it has maintained strong democratic traditions. In the first general elections after the independence on October 25, 1992, 56.75% of the total number of voters supported the new constitution.[13] There were heavy debates concerning the constitution, especially the role of the president. Drawing from the interwar experiences, many different proposals were made ranging from a strong parliamentary government to a presidential system similar to the one in the United States. A separate referendum was held on May 23, 1992 to gauge public opinion on the matter and 41% of all the eligible voters supported the restoration of the President of Lithuania.[13] Eventually a semi-presidential system was agreed upon.[14] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 514 × 341 pixelsFull resolution (514 × 341 pixel, file size: 83 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania List of Lithuanians Valdas Adamkus... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 514 × 341 pixelsFull resolution (514 × 341 pixel, file size: 83 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania List of Lithuanians Valdas Adamkus... President Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus (born Valdemaras Adamkevičius on November 3, 1926) is the current President of the Republic of Lithuania. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941), is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... Not to be confused with Vilnius city municipality. ... Lithuania is a multi-party, parliamentary democracy. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: ) defines the legal foundation for all laws passed in the Republic of Lithuania. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orange—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, the the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separately from the legislature, to which it is not accountable and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... There have been nine referenda in Lithuania since it declared independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Early Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania Title: Kunigaikštis or Didysis Kunigaikštis (The Great Duke in Lithuanian) Mindaugas, 1238-1263 also crowned as a King Treniota, 1263-1264 Vaišvilkas (Vaišelga, Vaishyalga, Vaišalgas), 1264-1267 Švarnas (Svarnas, Shvarno), 1267-1269 Traidenis, 1269-1281 Daumantas, 1281-1285 Butigeidis, 1285-1291 Butvydas, 1291... States with semi-presidential systems are shown in yellow The semi-presidential system is a system of government in which a prime minister and a president are both active participants in the day-to-day functioning of the administration of a country. ... The Lithuanian head of state is the President, elected directly for a five-year term, serving a maximum of two consecutive terms. The post of president is largely ceremonial; main policy functions however include foreign affairs and national security policy. The president is also the military commander-in-chief. The President, with the approval of the parliamentary body, the Seimas, also appoints the prime minister and on the latter's nomination, appoints the rest of the cabinet, as well as a number of other top civil servants and the judges for all courts. The judges of the Constitutional Court (Konstitucinis Teismas), who serve nine-year terms, are appointed by the President (three judges), the Chairman of the Seimas (three judges) and the Chairman of the Supreme Court (three judges). The unicameral Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has 141 members who are elected to four-year terms. 71 of the members of this legislative body are elected in single constituencies, and the other 70 are elected in a nationwide vote by proportional representation. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas. For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... Seimas is the Lithuanian parliament. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Alternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation) A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian: ) is a special court established by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 1992; it began the activities after the adoption of the Law on Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on February 3, 1993. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The House of Representatives Chamber of the Parliament of Australia in Canberra. ... Seimas is the Lithuanian parliament. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ... [edit] Counties, municipalities, and elderates Lithuania is subdivided into ten counties and sixty municipalities. Main articles: Counties of Lithuania, Municipalities of Lithuania, and Elderships of Lithuania The current administrative division was established in 1994 and modified in 2000 to meet the requirements of the European Union. Lithuania has a three-tier administrative division: the country is divided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: singular — apskritis, plural — apskritys) that are further subdivided into 60 municipalities (Lithuanian: singular — savivaldybė, plural — savivaldybės) which consist of over 500 elderates (Lithuanian: singular — seniūnija, plural — seniūnijos). Image File history File links Map showing municipalities and counties in Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Map showing municipalities and counties in Lithuania. ... Map of counties and their capitals The territory of Lithuania is divided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: apskritys, singular - apskritis), all named after their capitals. ... Map of Lithuania Lithuania is divided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: singular - apskritis, plural - apskritys) that are further sub-divided into 60 municipalities (Lithuanian: singular - savivaldybÄ—, plural - savivaldybÄ—s). ... SeniÅ«nija (elderate or eldership in English) is the smallest administrative division of Lithuania. ... Map of counties and their capitals The territory of Lithuania is divided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: apskritys, singular - apskritis), all named after their capitals. ... Map of municipalities and counties in Lithuania. ... SeniÅ«nija (elderate or eldership in English) is the smallest administrative division of Lithuania. ... The counties are ruled by county governors (Lithuanian: apskrities viršininkas) appointed by the central government. They ensure that the municipalities adhere to the laws of Lithuania and the constitution. County government oversees local governments and their implementation of the national laws, programs, and policies.[15] County governor (Lithuanian: singular - apskrities virÅ¡ininkas, plural - apskrities virÅ¡ininkai) is the leader of a county, an administrative unit of Lithuania. ... Municipalities are the most important unit. Some municipalities are historically called "district municipalities", and thus are often shortened to "district"; others are called "city municipalities", sometimes shortened to "city." Each municipality has its own elected government. In the past, the election of municipality councils occurred once every three years, but it now takes place every four years. The council elects the mayor of the municipality and other required personnel. The municipality councils also appoint elders to govern the elderates. There is currently a proposal for direct election of mayors and elders, however that would require an amendment to the constitution.[16] A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... The term Elder (or its equivalent in another language) is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority. ... Direct election is a term describing a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the person, persons or political party that they desire to see elected. ... Elderates are the smallest units and they do not play a role in national politics. They were created so that people could receive necessary services close to their homes; for example, in rural areas the elderates register births and deaths. They are most active in the social sector: they identify needy individuals or families and distribute welfare or organise other forms of relief.[17] The current system of administrative division receives frequent criticism for being too bureaucratic and ineffective. Significant complaints have been made about the number of counties, since they do not have much power. One proposal is to create four lands, a new administrative unit, the boundaries of which would be determined by the ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The benefit would be that the lands would follow natural boundaries, rather than being defined by bureaucrats or politicians.[18] Another of the proposed solutions involves reducing the number of counties so that there would be five in total, each based in one of the five largest cities with populations of over 100,000.[19] Others complain that elderates have no real power and receive too little attention; they could potentially become local initiative communities which could tackle many rural problems.[20] Lithuania is divided into historical and cultural regions: Aukštaitija (literally Upper Lithuania) comprises present Vilnius county, Utena County, Panevėžys County and the eastern part of Šiauliai County. ... [edit] Geography Physical map of Lithuania A cottage hotel in a rural area is a sign of increasingly popular agrotourism. Main article: Geography of Lithuania Lithuania is situated in northern Europe. It has around 99 kilometres (61.5 mi) of sandy coastline, of which only about 38 kilometres (24 mi) face the open Baltic Sea and which is the shortest among the Baltic Sea countries; the rest of the coast is sheltered by the Curonian sand peninsula. Lithuania's major warm-water port, Klaipėda, lies at the narrow mouth of the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuanian: Kuršių marios), a shallow lagoon extending south to Kaliningrad. The main river, the Neman River, and some of its tributaries carry international shipping vessels. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2366x1675, 2565 KB) Summary Many thanks to Renata for support and multiple reviews, comments and suggstions Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania Geography of Lithuania... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2366x1675, 2565 KB) Summary Many thanks to Renata for support and multiple reviews, comments and suggstions Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania Geography of Lithuania... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 140 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 140 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuania Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Agritourism is a style of vacation in which hospitality is offered on farms. ... The largest and most populous of the Baltic states, Lithuania is a generally maritime country with 60 miles of sandy coastline, of which only 24 miles face the open Baltic Sea. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Baltic (disambiguation). ... The Baltic Sea The following countries have access to the Baltic Sea: Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Poland Russia Sweden The Baltic Sea countries, together with Norway, Iceland and the European Union form the Council of the Baltic Sea States. ... Curonian Spit and Lagoon The Curonian Spit (Lithuanian: KurÅ¡ių Nerija, Russian: Куршская коса, German: Kurische Nehrung) is