Laar also visited Kaunas on his final day in Lithuania. President Adamkus signed the new lustration law , which requires all former KGB operatives to register with the state. President Adamkus also signed the law to delay compensation for lost rouble deposits . After an ugly debate, the Seimas approved a new set of amendments to the law on media, which eliminated the compensation ceiling for libel and slander . The media and opponents of the law say this law will open the floodgates to frivolous lawsuits as well as jeopardise press freedom and investigative reporting.
Supporters say it keeps journalists honest.
Foreign Minister Algirdas Saudargas visited Riga to discuss various bilateral issues with his counterpart, Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, as well as with Prime Minister Andris Skele and other officials. The Social Democrats face a split, as a moderate faction said they will form their own party . Among the moderates is deputy Seimas Speaker Rimantas Dagys, who has moved away from the leftist leader of the party, Vytenis Andriukaitis. The Christian Democrats came close to a split as well , as moderates complain of being pushed out of the leadership by the religious wing. Threatening all the parties is the move by the Liberal Union, which elected former Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas as its new leader .