Lithuania's Grybauskaite declares victory after run-offMay 26, 2014 - 10:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Lithuania's incumbent President Dalia Grybauskaite has declared victory following a second round of voting in the Baltic country's presidential elections, according to BBC News. With nearly all votes counted she had won 58% with her Social Democrat rival Zigmantas Balcytis trailing on 42%. Grybauskaite thanked her supporters for granting her a second term. "No president has been elected twice in a row in Lithuania. It will be a historic victory for all of you," she said. President Grybauskaite's reputation for plain speaking has led to her being dubbed the "Iron Lady", the nickname of former British PM Margaret Thatcher whom she describes as one of her political models. The 58-year-old former EU budget chief - who ran as an independent - focused her campaign on national security. Ahead of the second-round vote, she said Russia had chosen "confrontation, aggression and a review of post-war peace structures". Photo: Reuters Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |