The Conservative party’s presidium has chosen Audronius Ažubalis for the Minister of Foreign Affairs post and approved request for resignation from the post of Vygaudas Ušackas.  The Party decided to delegate their colleague unanimously since it was the only one candidate.  The Conservative party is holding the post of the Minister of Foreign Affairs according to the agreement in the coalition.

Audronius Ažubalis is 52, a journalist by trade, worked as a press person for the Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis the Chairman of Seimas twenty years ago.  He was Member of Parliament in 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 onwards.

Mr Ažubalis took part in many positions related to foreign affairs, currently is the Chairperson of Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Andrius Kubilius, the Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the Conservative party commented on the party’s decision to appoint Ažubalis by highlighting his experience in this field.  Mr Kubilius said after the party’s presidium meeting to the journalist, “He is experienced, heads the Foreign Affairs Committee and has been working with foreign policy affairs for a good decade.”

Mr Ažubalis was moved by the party’s decision and stated to the journalists, “I’m deeply touched that my party colleagues showed their trust in me and that they said so many beautiful words in my address.  I really didn’t expect this. I will now look forward to hearing the president’s decision.”

Despite of his admission, the Lithuania media saw Mr Ažubalis as the most realistic candidate to replace Ušackas after he announced about his resignation last week.  Mr. Ažubalis was one of the main candidates to take the Minister of Foreign Affairs post last December but the career diplomat Ušackas was chosen.  Then-President Valdas Adamkus did not approve Ažubalis candidacy.

When President Dalia Grybauskaite was asked what requirements she will rise to the new minister she replied, that she is expecting the candidate to follow the Constitution’s 84 Article which states, ‘The President of the Republic: 1) shall decide the basic issues of foreign policy and, together with the Government, conduct foreign policy’.

This is a first time in a decade when a non-career diplomat will possibly hold the post of the Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.  The Prime Minister will have to submit Ažubalis’ candidacy to the President.  According to the TV3 report this will be done as soon as possible, according to the TV3 report.