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U.S. Assistance to the Lithuanian Special Investigations Service
March 29, 2002
PROJECT FACT SHEET
The Government of the United States of America (USG), represented by Ambassador John Tefft, and the Government of Lithuania, represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis, signed an agreement to establish and support a project designed to provide assistance to the Special Investigations Service of the Republic of Lithuania. This project will assist in combating corruption and corruption-related crimes.
Total USG assistance to the government of Lithuania for this project is estimated to be $450,000. The project will provide equipment, as well as training and technical assistance contracted through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development. Initially, $325,000 is being provided to obtain equipment. Subsequently, training and related assistance valued at $125,000 will be made available. Future funding in support of this project is contingent upon the congressional authorization and appropriation of funds and approval by the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
The specific goal of this project is to provide necessary equipment and training to support the Special Investigations Service’s investigations of public corruption. Progress toward achievement of the project goal will be measured by three standards:
1) The Lithuanian Government’s commitment to sustain the independent status of the Special Investigations Service;
2) Continued funding for the Service’s activities by the Government of Lithuania;
3) The Service’s effective efforts to build cases against public corruption and crime.
Methods of verification of project achievement include observation by personnel of the two cooperating governments, information exchanged among prosecutors and police, and successful completion of investigations by the Special Investigations Service of public corruption.
