Current Events
Investing with Rimas M. Milaitis
When Strong Capital Management of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin decided to choose a spokesperson for their company, they chose Rimas Milaitis. Already Strong internet advertising and full page ads in the New York Times (4/30/2000) have featured Milaitis.
The ads sound out Milaitiss reasoning for his determination in business and successes. My grandparents lost absolutely everything overnight when the Russian Red Army took over Lithuanian in World War II, said Milaitis, who is 37. My mothers family buried the silver in the field. When they came here, they started from scratch. They had nothing.
In the New York Times ad, Dick Strongs words are, Rimass roots have profoundly affected his perception of the world. He appreciates tings in this country that most of us will always take for granted. He is very serious, very proud, and very competitive.
Look for Milaitis in the financial section of the newspaper. Hes bound to be there also.
50 Year Anniversary Celebrations!
Detroit's
Lithuanian-American community celebrated the 50th anniversary of their
Baltijos and Gabijos Boys and Girls Scout Troops. Their ability to keep
their youth connected to "God, Country, and Fellow Person" over
these 50 years is a great example of Lithuanian dedication to its youth. The
illustration to the right was included among many in their Anniversary
publication.
Tėviškės Žiburiai (The Lights of Homeland), a Lithuanian-Canadian weekly newspaper also marked its 50 years of service to the Lithuanian community in Canada. The first editor was Dr. Adolfas Šapoka (passed away in 1961), and his assistant was Rev. Dr. Pranas Gaida. Presently, Rev. Dr. Gaida is managing editor assisted by J. Andrulis, Č. Senkevičius, R. Sakalaitė-Jonaitienė.
Racine Parish Opens New Doors in Lithuania
The Catholic Herald December 9, 1999 edition ran a news story, written by Bill Kurtz, describing the closure of Racine Wisconsin's Lithuanian Parish, St. Casimir Parish.
According to the article, "the former St. Casimir parish, just south of downtown, closed in 1998, but many of its furnishings will find new use. Appropriately, items are being sent to Lithuania, the homeland of those who founded St. Casimir in 1913."
"St. Casimir was one of five south side parishes that merged to form St. Richard Parish. Patrick Diem, co-chairman of the St. Richard parish council, said that St. Casimirs last parish council and its last pastor, Fr. Russell G. Roetzer, proposed sending items to Lithuania."
"Parishioners contacted a bishop in Lithuania, and donations were steered to the city of Marijampolė, where four new parishes are served by the Marian Fathers, who served St. Casimir for much of its existence."
"The Lithuanian parishes will receive altar linens, vestments, candlesticks, baptismal fonts, seven statues and 14 stations of the cross with inscriptions in Lithuanian."
"St. Richard received a grateful letter from a Marian priest in Marijampolė. 'This is my fourth year struggling to refurbish a very destroyed and neglected church left by the Communists,' the priest wrote. 'Whatever articles you could send from your church, we would truly be grateful and fortunate to accept. With huge gratitude we welcome everything you send. Whatever is not needed in our church, we will share with others."
Ramutis Pliūra
An Apology From Lithuanias Catholic Church
The Evangelist, May 4, 2000, printed an article concerning "Lithuanias Catholic bishops apologizing for the Churchs failure to defend persecuted Jews during World War II, as well as for past instances of 'nationalist egoism.' "
The article, from CNS, highlighted the contents of a letter, signed by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius of Kaunas, president of the Lithuanian bishops' conference, and the conference secretary-general, Auxiliary Bishop Jonas Boruta of Vilnius. The letter said, "It pains us that a part of the Church's children lacked love for persecuted Jews during World War II and did not use all possible means to defend them."
"In their letter, the bishops said they regretted that Catholic priests and laity "through human weakness and fear or for personal gain, not only submitted to criminal occupation regimes, abandoning their religious, moral and civic duties, but also helped the oppressors." They added that "not all Christians connived in the Holocaust or with the Soviet KGB. But some did, and this must be admitted as a lesson for the future."
"Bishop Boruta said the letter had been "calmly and positively received" by all but "a few small radical groups" and would contribute to calming tensions in the run-up to October elections to Lithuania's parliament."
Edward Baranauskas
Remembering Danutė
March
14, 2000 was the first anniversary of the passing of Danutė Lembertienė
(Dana Daukantas-Lembertas). She is survived by her husband Vitalis Lembertas
and two daughters, Audra and Brigitta, and four beloved grandchildren. Her
writings have appeared in BRIDGES.
June 11, 2000, Holy Mass was offered at St. Casimirs Church, Los Angeles, California, for her soul. After Mass, a monument for her was blessed at Forest Lawn Cemetery, and everybody was invited back to St. Casimirs parish hall for a Lithuanian traditional gedulingi pietūs (dinner) with a program Remembering Danutė.
Family asks all friends to remember Danutė in their prayers.
Ale Ruta
Lithuanian Mercy Lift 2000
Lithuanian Mercy Lift (LML) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary! In April 1990, a small group of individuals came together from various backgrounds and were determined to ship one container of medical aid to medically deprived Lithuania. Bonded by a common need to help those less fortunate, Lithuanian Mercy Lift members prodded forward with hope and determination to change the medical system that had been depleted by 50 years of Soviet occupation.
With open hearts, LML members are continuously seeking effective ways of helping hospitals, homes for the elderly, and childrens orphanages in Lithuania. Priorities include the purchase of much needed medicines and the establishment of various health-oriented programs throughout the country. All the LML projects are only possible through the generosity of the LML donors and supporters.
This year, October 1st, Lithuanian Mercy Lift will host its annual fundraiser at the Montefiori Gardens and Pavilions, in Lemont, IL. The yearly Grand Raffle is held in conjunction with the fundraiser. This year we have two grand prizes: each a pair of round-trip airline tickets to Lithuania, generously donated by American Travel Service, Evergreen Park, IL. and Scandinavian Airline System (SAS), Chicago, IL. Other prizes include: $1000 cash; $500 cash and two prizes of $250 cash.
To contact LML, write to P.O. Box 88, Palos Heights, Ill, 60463 or phone 708-448-6173.
Lithuanian Mercy Lift Fundraising Committee
Sen. Durbin Opens US Senate's Eyes to Putin's Russia
Lithuanian ally at the U.S. Senate, Senator Richard Durbin, cautioned his colleagues not to shut their eyes to the "disturbing statements by Russia" concerning the Baltic states, adding that the countries should be invited to NATO.
Durbin read a statement in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks against Baltic membership in NATO at the U.S. Senate in late June.
The senator severely criticized Putin's statement that the admission of the three Baltic States to NATO would be a rash gesture, which would destabilize the situation in Europe.
In Durbin's words, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not have "anything like a missile arsenal, yet they look across the borders to their neighbors in Russia and Belarus and see very highly armed situations and in many cases very threatening."
Commenting on the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement about a voluntary entry by Lithuania into the Soviet Union in 1940, Durbin said that "this is an outrageous rewrite of history."
"We thought that the end of the Russian empire would be the end of revisionist history. Unfortunately, Mr. Putin and his leadership in Moscow are starting to turn back to the same old ways," said the member of the Baltic Caucus at the U.S. Senate.
"It is unbelievable that the Russian Foreign Ministry could forget the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop pact," Durbin said.
Russia Suggests Lithuanians Forgive, Forget
Russia's ambassador to Vilnius, Yuri Zubakov, set Lithuania apart from the two other Baltic states, and proposed Lithuanians forget the past and its wrongs.
"Russians and Lithuanians understand that without one another things would be difficult. Everyone wants to have a neighbor who, in the moment of need, can be relied upon," the ambassador told the Lithuanian daily, Lietuvos Rytas, in an interview on July 24th.
"Each Baltic state has started to take on its own image in the eyes of Moscow recently," he said. "Each has its own individual features, and there are nuances to the relationships with Russia, too."
Zubakov said Russian-Lithuanian relations are also distinguished by the visa-free travel regime to and from the Kaliningrad Oblast, the sole Russian territory (divided from Russia by Lithuania and Belarus, conquered from Nazi Germany after World War II) where Lithuanians don't need a visa.
The ambassador said he believes Russia should conclude treaties with Lithuania on the demarcation of state borders, investment protection, and the avoidance of double taxation immediately.
The Treaty on the Delimitation of Borders, the Continental Shelf, and Economic Zones in the Baltic Sea between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Lithuania was signed by Lithuanian president Algirdas Brazauskas and Russian president Boris Yeltsin in 1997. It was ratified by the Lithuanian parliament in autumn of 1999.
The ambassador said efforts are needed so that "two equally sovereign states can expand normal neighborly relations."
The diplomat repeated Russia's hard line on Lithuanian NATO membership. "Our position on Lithuanian NATO membership is strictly negative. We know there are other national defense methods that could guarantee security," Zubakov said.
He said Russia wasn't against Lithuania joining the EU, commenting "that's normal economic relations."
Lithuanian-U.S. Business Council Created
The first meeting of the Lithuanian-U.S. Business Council was held in Washington, D.C.. The meeting took place July 25th at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry reported.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest business organizations.
Deputy speaker of the Lithuanian parliament Rimantas Dagys and Lithuania's ambassador to the U.S. Stasys Sakalauskas attended the council's first meeting.
Lithuanian representatives briefed the group on Lithuanian economic and political current events and fielded questions on economic reform plans, progress in joining the EU, restructuring in the energy market, the prospects for integration of energy supply in the Baltic region, the expansion at the Port of Klaipėda and expected membership in the World Trade Organization.
What concrete actions the council should take to stimulate business ties between the two countries was also discussed.
The Business Council will regularly distribute information about Lithuania in the U.S.. Its first bulletin was presented at its first meeting, which will be made available to all members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. Supports Lithuania's Euroatlantic Integration
U.S. President Bill Clinton assured Lithuania and the other Baltic states of his country's support in their aspirations to become members of European and transatlantic institutions.
The above was stated in President Clinton's letter addressed to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, the President's Office reported on July 4th.
In his letter, Pres. Clinton welcomed the re-affirmation at the recent sitting of the US Baltic Partnership Commission in Tallinn of common efforts to jointly create conditions to complete the integration of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia into European and transatlantic institutions.
Clinton also expressed his conviction in the letter that "Russian President Putin understands clearly the importance the United States attaches to ensuring stable and cooperative relations between Russia and its neighbors, including the Baltic region."
President Clinton said that "this issue, along with respect for democratic principles and the success of economic reforms will have a direct impact on Russia's international integration." The letter also says the United States would continue to facilitate commercial contacts between the Lithuanian oil industry and the Russian government. Williams International, an American oil company, is currently managing the Lithuanian concern Mažeikių Nafta [Mažeikiai Oil], the uninterrupted operation of which depends largely on Russian oil supplies.
In turn, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus sent a letter to President Clinton to congratulate him with Independence Day, the 4th of July. President Adamkus said in his letter that "common values and similar experience in the history of both countries has drawn our countries closer through the transatlantic partnership."
Lithuanias Torahs to be Given to Religious Communities
The Lithuanian parliament has been coming up with proposals to return Jewish holy writings, Torah, to Jewish religious communities.
In legislation, sponsored by members of the parliament's Education, Science and Cultural Committee and the Human Rights Committee, the Torah held by the Lithuanian National Library would be given over to Jewish communities and associations without remuneration, although those Torah holding special significance for the Lithuanian cultural inheritance would be retained.
The legislation calls on the Lithuanian government to confirm the manner of Torah transfer and a list of receivers by September 1, 2000.
The Lithuanian National Mažvydas Library has custody of and is restoring approximately 270 Torah, in varying states of preservation. Most of the Torah were found several years ago, strewn among other books in a Vilnius warehouse.
Lithuanian President Bestows Honorary Order on US Ambassador
U.S. Ambassador Keith Smith, who completed his term in office, was decorated with the Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
On July 25th, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus conferred the Order on the U.S. ambassador for his personal contribution to the development of Lithuanian-U.S. interstate relations and his assistance to Lithuania in its integration with the community of the world states.
The Lithuanian president expressed his gratitude for his diplomatic service in Vilnius and for his personal attention to Lithuania.
In his turn, Ambassador Smith said that bilateral relations between Lithuania and the United States "have always been and always will be very good." In an earlier news conference, Smith had stated that "he sees many unexplored possibilities for Lithuanian exports to the United
States." He told reporters there are many Lithuanian products which could fit into a very good market in the U.S., including timber, furniture, textiles and linen, handicraft glass objects, small manufactured items, food, dairy products and others. But Lithuanian producers perceive the U.S. market as distant and inaccessible, and don't attempt marketing their products there."
Among his accomplishments, Smith recalled Lithuanian and American cooperation and presiding over a period that saw Lithuania moving ahead in its preparations for NATO membership.
"Lithuania's image in America regarding NATO is very positive. I think there are more people in the United States who know about Lithuania today. We've had more American senators and congressmen in the last three years in Lithuania than in any other Central European country," the ambassador said.
A career diplomat, John F. Tefft, will replace the ambassador. Keith Smith will continue his career at the U.S. Department of State.
Germany to Give Reparations for WWII Occupation
The Lithuanian Research Centre of Population Genocide and Resistance has decided to set up a task group to collect applications from persons who had suffered from Nazi occupation and to create a database.
A June 30th report released by the Centre said that a German foundation "Memory, Responsibility and Future" will pay out compensations to those persons who had been put on the Centre's list as having suffered from Nazi occupation.
Early in June, the Lithuanian Seimas [parliament] adopted a decision on the procedure of receiving compensation from Germany by Lithuanian citizens, which provides that the Centre of Population Genocide would be in charge of gathering applications and carrying out other functions in a compensation pay-out procedure until a Lithuanian-German organization has been set up to carry out these functions.
Since the restoration of independence, Lithuanian citizens had to appeal to the Russian embassy with regard to receiving compensations for the damage resulting from the Nazi occupation.
It is thought that compensation for damage may reach several hundred millions or even billions of U.S. dollars.
Speaking at a meeting in Vilnius with the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, early in June, Lithuanian Seimas Speaker, Vytautas Landsbergis, said that a two-way organization should be set up to solve the issue of compensations, similar to those in effect between Germany and Poland and the Czech Republic.
Recently, various Lithuanian public organizations have sent letters addressed to the president of the German Bundestag and to one of the initiators of the German foundation "Memory, Responsibility and Future" asking them to exert pressure on the German government to see that payment of compensations were not made through a third party from the former Soviet Union.
Eurocentras 2000 Festivities
A week-long hot-air balloon event, Eurocentras 2000, began July 21st in Vilnius. The program for the event included ten competitions and a parade of balloons by moonlight, the organizers announced.
Morning and evening flights over the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, and over what is considered to be the geographical center of Europe, slightly to the north of the city, were also seen.
Three formal competitions took place during the festivities Eurocentras 2000, the fourth international hot air balloon contest, the eighth Lithuanian hot air balloon contest, and the World Cities Cup 2000.
Hot air balloons with the names of cities festooned on their cupolas participated in the World Cities Cup 2000, for the first time this year. .
This project is to continue until the year 2009.
Lithuanian Women Admitted to Military Academy
Women have been admitted to the Lithuanian Military Academy for full-time studies this year for the first time.
On July 21st, the Mandate Commission of the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy decided to accept 145 new candidates of the 540 seeking to become military officers.
Women competed alongside men in the selection process; although they were given a handicap for physical requirements.
This year, 62 women submitted applications to study at the academy. Nine fulfilled the requirements of the selection process. All nine were admitted as candidates.
The Office of Comptroller for Equal Gender Opportunity requested an explanation as to why the number of women admitted for studies at the academy was limited.
Based on a directive from the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense and on the needs of female officers, a quota of six women had been set for this year. But the equal opportunity comptroller said educational institutions must provide uniform conditions for men and women applying to become students.
Last October, 1999, the Lithuanian defense minister ordered women be given opportunities for full-time studies at the academy, in line with findings by the comptroller's office.
The defense ministry reported that all candidates will have to undergo a further ten-week military preparation course beginning August 1, during which their physical and mental abilities in extreme situations, and leadership abilities and other military qualities will be assessed.
If they pass the assessment tests and finish the course successfully, the candidates will become cadets.
The Lithuanian Military Academy was established in 1994. It prepares future officers and raises the level of professional qualification of current officers.