Soros participated in the opening of the OSFL news office on Didzioji Street 5. "Lithuania has definitely made a considerable progress. Differences have narrowed tremendously between West and East Europe," Soros said.
He emphasized that the period of transition from the Soviet system to a free society is coming to an end in Lithuania as well as in the rest of Central Europe.
Soros said that he would cut significantly his sponsorship to post-communist countries of Europe because he wants to concentrate his philanthropist activity in the much poorer states of Asia and Africa.
Indeed, Soros donated $6 million for OSFL in 1999 while he plans to give only $2.5 million for OSFL in 2001.
Soros sponsors over 30 similar foundations in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe. OSFL supports many programs, the promotion of ideas for an open society, financial support for Lithuanians studying abroad, help for handicapped people and the promotion of young artists.
In the last 10 years Soros has granted almost 168 million litas ($42 million) to various OSFL projects. No wonder that in 1995 Soros was awarded with the order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
Egidijus Aleksandravicius, chairman of OSFL, said that now the main concern of his organization would be further propaganda of ideas for an open civic society and further integration into Europe.
During a press conference, Soros urged Lithuania not to follow blindly each rule and demand of the European Union. Soros said that simple Europeans have little influence on EU decisions. Eastern Europeans have better understanding of the value of democracy than people in Western Europe and the United States, according to Soros. He expressed his hope that Lithuania will bring more democracy into the EU. Despite a bit of criticism, Soros called the EU "a great idea of Europeans."
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