„We raise questions about the state’s preparedness for resilience issues. My conscience is clear,“ he told journalists at the Presidential Palace on Thursday.
According to the former president’s advisor and former deputy minister of national defense, the association sets itself the goal that by 2030, 70% of the population will know their role in a crisis situation and be prepared for it.
It also aims to increase the resilience of various organizations and cooperates with politicians by providing them with insights, advice, and recommendations.
„All the things that are done are done for the sake of national security. I believe all the arguments are on my side. From the organization’s perspective, I can guarantee the transparency, accuracy, contact with institutions, and better results of the actions we take, which are necessary for everyone: the state, organizations, and citizens,“ said T. Godliauskas.
Presidential advisor Marius Česnulevičius, responding to the questions raised by the “Aušra” members, said that „this political force will get answers.“
He emphasized that decisions related to the country’s defense are made not by public organizations but by state institutions, primarily the State Defense Council.
„Regardless of what insinuations can be made, we definitely have our system, which usually protects against any influence. That is one point. The second point – well, there should be an interest. After today’s meeting, we do not see any interest that business would want to take part of the money from the 5% (budget portion allocated for national defense funding – BNS) or from any other percentages,“ said the advisor.
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„We see that business contributes financially to strengthening defense. Both financially and with human resources. So from the outside, it does not seem to me and does not give the impression that there is any negative interest in this matter,“ he said.
At the Universal Defense Forum held at the Presidential Palace, 63 business, local government, non-governmental organizations, associations, and state institutions on Thursday confirmed a joint commitment to systematically prepare for their role in universal defense.
BNS wrote that representatives of the “Nemuno Aušra” faction in the Seimas on Thursday announced their intention to appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office and the State Security Department to evaluate the activities of the “Universal Defense” association.
The leader of the “Aušra” group, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, stated that Lithuanian businessmen who established the public institution threaten to pressure politicians and the military to have their recommendations or proposed solutions accepted.
According to him, some members of the Seimas received a letter containing an excerpt from a letter allegedly sent by the association, which includes phrases like „we will do, speak both nicely and angrily, press, pull, push, and make it happen. We will pressure politicians and society to do what they have to do.“
„Nemuno Aušra“ is concerned about the “Universal Defense” goal to raise 2.5 million euros. According to them, such funds would be an effective tool of influence, especially before elections.
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