Lithuania's President elect says he won't change political course

President-elect Rolandas Paksas of Lithuania told a press conference Monday that he would pursue the same political course as his predecessor and would work toward his country's full integration into the European Union and NATO. But while developing relations with Western countries, Lithuania will also be maintaining close ties with its partners in the East, Mr. Paksas assured.

The Lithuanian president-elect announced his intention to remove a few inefficiently working ministers from office, but said that most of the present Cabinet members would remain in their positions.

These and other issues will be raised by Mr. Paksas in his conversation Tuesday with Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas. According to the president-elect, the incumbent Premier enjoys a high degree of trust with the Lithuanian public. The newly-elected leader, presently affiliated with the Liberal Democratic Party, sees the forthcoming meeting as an opportunity to establish good, businesslike relations with representatives of the ruling majority (the Social Democrats and the Social Liberals).

In keeping with the Constitution, Mr. Paksas will withdraw from his party as he takes over the presidency.