he number of the road fatalities is decreasing in Lithuania; however, it still exceeds the average of the European Union (EU).

In 2013, tourists and same-day visitors spent LTL 4.2 billion (EUR 1.2 billion) in Lithuania. According to the State Department of Tourism (VTD), which has summarised the statistics of the Bank of Lithuania for 2013, revenue from inbound tourism has grown by as much as 8% year-on-year.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė took part in the ceremony of signing the Agreement on the Strategic Guidelines of Lithuania's Security Policy for 2014-2020 which was held at the Presidential Palace. As Lithuania celebrates ten years of its membership in NATO, seven parliamentary parties signed an agreement, initiated by the President, on foreign, security and defense policies to ensure Lithuania's economic, energy, military and information security.

Latvia's first EUR 2 (commemorative) coin of special design is dedicated to the country's capital city Riga, the European Capital of Culture 2014, and features a panoramic view of the Old Town, the Bank of Latvia said in a press release.

In 2014, the members of the Private Forest Owners Association of Lithuania will reforest 1000 hectares of forest.

International tender for construction of national stadium in Lithuania's capital will be announced. While striving to be in control of the construction process, the Government wants the projects to be managed by one company.

The reconstruction of Kalvariju market starts in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

Last Monday, on 24th March, Deputy Marshal of the Polish Sejm, Vice-chairman of the Civic Platform party Cezary Grabarczyk was in Šalčininkai. The dignitary of Poland was accompanied by the Member of Sejm, Chairman of the Polish-Lithuanian Parliamentary group Tadeusz Aziewicz. Member of the European Parliament Valdemar Tomaševski, Deputy Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Jaroslav Narkievič, Member of the Lithuanian Seimas Michal Mackievič came to Šalčininkai together with the guests from Poland.

On Tuesday, the Centre of New Pharmaceutical and Health Technologies in Santaka Valley was opened in Kaunas. The more effective drugs will be developed in the laboratories equipped with the latest scientific technologies.

Polish oil concern PKN ORLEN, owner of Lithuanian refining company ORLEN Lietuva, has been awarded the prestigious title of The World's Most Ethical Company. PKN ORLEN is the only company recognised with the title in Central and Eastern Europe.