Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 12, 2009

Lithuania Swears In First Woman President
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=254A6B2:A6F02AD83191E160AD5E2ED6664E5DD1B3350E090FE6A6E8&
 
Dalia Grybauskaite, EU budget commissioner pledged to tackle Lithuania's
deepening economic troubles 
Recession-hit Lithuania has inaugurated its first woman president. Dalia
Grybauskaite, celebrates her victory at campaign headquarters in Vilnius
(File)Dalia Grybauskaite took her oath of office in a low-key ceremony
Sunday in the capital, Vilnius In a speech to parliament after being
sworn in, the former European Union budget commissioner pledged to
tackle Lithuania's deepening economic troubles and strike a balanced
foreign policy. Ms. Grybauskaite replaces Valdas Adamkus, who is
retiring after two five-year terms. After her election, Ms. Grybauskaite
said she would consider replacing the ministers of finance, the economy,
social welfare, health and energy when she took office. Ms.
Grybauskaite, who ran as an independent, won about 69 percent of the
vote. The Baltic country's once thriving economy has been badly hurt by
the global financial crisis. EU data shows the Lithuanian economy shrank
nearly 10 percent in the first three months of this year. Unemployment
was more than 15 percent earlier this year. Some information for this
report was provided by AFP and AP.


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