VILNIUS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday appointed Laurynas Kasciunas as the new defense minister, the presidential office said.

Kasciunas was nominated by Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte last week to replace Arvydas Anusauskas, who resigned at the prime minister's request, Baltic News Services reported.

According to Simonyte, Anusauskas stepped down because he had been too inactive on key national defense issues, such as the conscription reform, the search for additional sources of defense funding and the expansion of the active military reserve.

In Lithuania, ministers are appointed and dismissed by the president at the request of the prime minister. Enditem

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