Recession-hit Lithuania has inaugurated its first woman president.
Dalia Grybauskaite took her oath of office in a low-key ceremony Sunday in the capital, Vilnius
In a speech to parliament after being sworn in, the former European Union budget commissioner pledged to tackle Lithuania's deepening economic troubles and strike a balanced foreign policy.
Ms. Grybauskaite replaces Valdas Adamkus, who is retiring after two five-year terms.
After her election, Ms. Grybauskaite said she would consider replacing the ministers of finance, the economy, social welfare, health and energy when she took office.
Ms. Grybauskaite, who ran as an independent, won about 69 percent of the vote.
The Baltic country's once thriving economy has been badly hurt by the global financial crisis. EU data shows the Lithuanian economy shrank nearly 10 percent in the first three months of this year. Unemployment was more than 15 percent earlier this year.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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