Lithuania president leads nation's economic revival. As part of a working tour of the country's five regions to further invigorate the economy, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite visited Aukstaitija to discuss the development of cultural tourism in the northeast highland area. Visiting as well Aukstaitija's estate, which had been the residence of a former Lithuanian president, Her Excellency stated that the country's many unique and culturally rich heritage sites, ranging from manors and castles to natural landscapes, could be revived to create new tourism and recreational business opportunities. President Dalia Grybauskaite has been leading her nation toward a self-sufficient path of economic security after it became among the most impacted by the European Union's second-deepest recession in 2009. As a former state vice-minister of foreign affairs as well as finance minister and the European Commissioner for Financial Programming & the Budget, Her Excellency's capability in the area of economics is considerable. Under her administration, over 3.3 million co-citizens rallied in cooperation for a necessary austerity budget program, with decisions made by the conservative government that carefully took into account the concerns of the Lithuanian labor unions. The Baltic state is now on track to adopting the euro by 2014 while reducing its deficit to just 3% of the country's total goods and services by 2012. Other favorable signals include a steady increase in retail sales and a rapid improvement in exports. At the recent European Union Council meeting in Belgium, Supreme Master Television asked Her Excellency to share her thoughts about the country's accomplishments. (Interview in English) Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite (F): I am happy to hear that evaluation from outside is that we are very successful. In reality, all the Baltic states, we have been going under pressure of huge and very strategic and radical economic reforms. They were very fast, very rapid and very deep, while of course, we got not only good results but also tensions and social tensions, and not always well and good acceptance by our population. So we also paid a price of popularity, for example, of governments, diversification of society. All this we paid as all countries who are under huge pressure of economic reforms. But I am happy that our countries were able to survive in this financial downturn. And in general, we were able to manage ourselves. We were able to go through and I'm looking forward that already this year and the beginning of next year, Lithuania's economy will be on a recovery path. VOICE: Our respectful admiration Your Excellency President Dalia Grybauskaite and Lithuania on revitalizing your economy in challenging times through trust and collaboration. May all world nations prosper through such courageous leadership that upholds the best interests of co-citizens.

• published: 22 Jul 2010
• views: 544