Head of Lithuanian parliament's 2009-2010 crisis probe to go to Sweden

The chairman of the Lithuanian parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance (CBF), which is looking into the circumstances and consequences of the 2009-2010 crisis, expects to meet with the heads of Sweden's central bank and financial watchdog during his visit to the country next week.

"The crisis in the Baltic countries and Lithuania will be discussed with both authorities," Stasys Jakeliunas told BNS on Thursday.

"Since Sweden's parliament, central bank and financial supervisory authority have voiced their positions regarding reasons behind the crisis, we will discuss the ongoing investigation (in Lithuania) and will look at whether these findings and positions are different or similar," he added.

Jakeliunas said he was ready to inform the Swedish authorities about his position regarding relations with the Bank of Lithuania and to discuss the issue of Vilnius interbank offered rates (VILIBOR) issue with them.

The lawmaker said neither SEB and Swedbank in Sweden nor their Lithuanian units had responded to his attempts to contact them.

Jakeliunas has publicly reproached the Scandinavian banks for the impact their behavior had on the financial crisis and has called for reducing their concentration in Lithuania and the other Baltic countries.

The lawmaker is scheduled to visit Sweden on May 2. The Lithuanian embassy in Stockholm has helped to arrange his meetings.