HALLDÓR PÁLSSON

Lithuania

In 1997 the 448 page book about Lithuania, “Lithuania – The Baltic Book” was published in English and German, as well as online.

When Halldór had the idea to publish books in the Baltic countries he got two men to assist him. Mr. Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson who was the Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs when the Iron Curtain was falling. As history tells Mr. Jón Baldvin was the first person to recognize the independence of the Baltic states and displayed exceptional bravery by going to Lithuania with Mr. Ásgeir Hannes Eiríksson, to support their leaders when they needed support the most. Both Mr. Jón Baldvin and Mr. Ásgeir Hannes helped Halldór gain the support of all the leaders in these counties. Halldór met with 3 Lithuanian leaders: Mr. Vytautas Landsbergis, the first leader of Lithuania, President Algirdas Brazauskas who wrote a recommendation letter to the business life in Lithuania about the project. President Brazauskas also wrote a letter after the publication which followed the book which was given to all the European Members of Parliament. After this Halldór met with Mr. Valdas Adamkus who moved back from USA and won the presidential elections and became President of Lithuania for three years.