Lithuania's image problem

Lithuania is depressed about its lack of recognition abroad. The government is now considering changing the English name, which many find so hard to pronounce. Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas wants to start an image campaign to present Lithuania as a "courageous land." Rimvydas Valatka raises an eyebrow: "Just what do marketing experts have to offer? OK, we were Europe's last pagans, we were the ones to initiate the fall of the Soviet Union, we supposedly have an innovative culture and a spirit of enterprise. But isn't this somehow reminiscent of Soviet propaganda? What does the fact that we were latecomers to Christianity have to do with courage? ... It's nice to want to make an impression, but do we want it to be an idiotic one?"

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