Lithuanian right-wingers join forces, announce new pressure group (3)

Political parties and public figures on the right of the political spectrum announced on Tuesday that they were fed up with Lithuania's 'stagnation' and were forming a pressure group.

The new group, which calls itself Vardan Lietuvos (In the name of Lithuania), is an alliance of free-marketers, classical liberals, and social conservatives.

A statement issued by the group declared: 'Lithuania needs a fresh and vigorous stimulus, and this can only be achieved by concerted and responsible policy-making; one which values decency, wisdom, and concord.'

'Our aim is to unite Lithuania's best minds,' said Conservative party leader Andrius Kubilius, one of the group's initiators.

'(We) have grasped that we cannot remain indifferent to the havoc and stagnation of the state, and we will seek a way out together.'

Three political parties have signed up: the Conservatives, the Liberals Movement, and the Christian Democrats.

Numerous intellectuals and NGO heads also pledged their support.

The group is to hold its inaugural meeting in Vilnius this Friday.