Lietuva in brief - 2013-04-25

Poland is becoming the leader of Central and Eastern Europe, but its leadership cannot be good without having good relations with Lithuania, said former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus on April 19 in Warsaw, where he spoke while presenting a report on the two nations’ approach to each other, reports ELTA. The study, Neighbors. Approach to each other, by Poles and Lithuanians, based on extensive sociological research, was carried out at the initiative of Polish professor Bronislaw Geremek’s fund. Adamkus stressed Geremek’s words, who said that “Lithuania’s independence is the guaranty of democracy in Poland. Poland is becoming the leader of the Central and Eastern Europe region, so it is understandable that it wants to join the club of major and influential countries. But Poland’s leadership in the region will never be good without a good relationship with Lithuania,” the ex-president said.

On April 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius condemned the act of vandalism committed against Jewish historic sites after some anti-Semitic slogans appeared on Subacius street in Vilnius, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “I strictly condemn the act of vandalism committed at the time when we are commemorating the victims of the Vilna Ghetto, as the Seimas of Lithuania has passed a resolution, and will be assembling today to mark the 65th anniversary of Israel’s independence in Vilnius.  We cannot tolerate incitement to ethnic hatred in a democratic state, which respects all ethnic minorities. I will raise this issue as a member of the government. In compliance with the laws of Lithuania, the perpetrators responsible for drawing swastikas shall not go unpunished, as the Lithuanian law prohibits the display of such symbols.