Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi

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The road and railway networks are well developed in Lithuania. Lithuania is
a vital link in the “Via Baltica”, the Baltic way running from Poland to
Estonia, and is at the heart of the transit routes between East and West. There
are 4 international airports in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda and Siauliai counties,
and the harbour in Klaipeda, which is the only ice-free harbour in the Eastern
Baltic. Over 15 million tons of cargos are handled per year in it. Close to
Klaipeda there is an oil terminal of Butinge.
HISTORY
Lithuania was first consolidated into a unified state from a number of
dukedoms by Grand Duke Mindaugas by 1240. By the 15 th century Lithuania
was one of the most powerful states in the Eastern Europe. Its land extended
up to the Black sea. In 1569 with the Lublin Union a Rzeczpospolita –
federation of Lithuania and Poland – was established and lasted until 1795
when Lithuania was incorporated into Russia. After more than hundred years
of Tsarist rule, Lithuania declared its independence in 1918. Independence
lasted for 22 years. In 1940 the Soviet Union occupied the country and for 50
years Lithuania was under Soviet regime. On 11 March 1990 Lithuania
proclaimed the restoration of independence.
Nowadays Lithuania is an independent democratic republic. On 17 September
1991 Lithuania was admitted to the United Nations. On 12 June 1995
Lithuania signed a Europe (Associate) Agreement with EU. The agreement
was ratified by the Seimas on 20 June 1996 and came into force on 1 February
1998 following its ratification by the parliaments of the EU Member States
and the approval of the European Parliament.
DEMOGRAPHY AND ETHNIC ISSUES
In April 2001 Lithuania has conducted the census, answering the United
Nations address to the countries all over the world to conduct Population and
Housing Censuses at the threshold of the third millennium. This was the first
census following the restoration of Lithuania’s independence. Last census was
conducted in 1989.