From the Lithuanian World Community
Under One Umbrella
The Xth
Lithuanian World Community Parliament
The Lithuanian World Community released a special edition of The World Lithuanian highlighting the Parliaments events and the World Communitys regions.
After World War II, Lithuanian exiles fled to many parts of the world thinking that this may be temporary. Lithuania will return to its normal self and life will go on. Yet, the lives of these exiles continued in the distant lands, and the fear that russification and sovietization would obliterate Lithuanian culture and language increased with each passing year.
By 1949, it became apparent that the responsibility to maintain and support Lithuanian culture outside of Lithuania would depend on the unity of this widely dispersed group of people. On June 14th, 1949, the Lietuvių Charta (the Lithuanian exiles' constitution) was written and signed by representatives of the exile communities. With this, the Lithuanian World Community (LWC) started its work sustaining and nurturing Lithuanian cultural, educational, and societal growth beyond Lithuania's borders.
The Lithuanian World Community Xth Parliament
with 129 representatives from 28 countries.
Photo: Algimantas Žižiūnas
With the exiles under one umbrella, the Lithuanian World Community, it was imperative to maintain communication. The Lithuanian World Community Parliament (Pasaulio Lietuvių Bendruomenės Seimas not to be confused with the present Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania) became the instrument to effectively gather representatives from each country in which exiles were living every four to five years to determine the (democratically elected every three years) executive committee's focus and work goals.
When Lithuania reestablished her independence, she did so with the help of many people, including the untiring support of the Lithuanian World Community. The LWC met for their ninth Parliament in Lithuania in 1997. They had succeeded in keeping "Lithuania" alive throughout the world.
The LWC Xth Parliament was held in Vilnius, Lithuania on August 15th to the 20th. One hundred twenty nine Lithuanian Community delegates, including Youth Association chairpeople, came together from 28 countries. Those countries represented were: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Byelorussia, Canada, Colombia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kaliningrad, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Siberia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. Guests from Spain and New Zealand also participated. Representatives from Holland, Denmark and Hungary could not attend.
The new executive committee elected for 2000 to 2003 is comprised of: Vytautas Kamantas (U.S.), Regina Kučienė (U.S.), Milda Lenkauskienė (U.S.), Prof. Dr. Bronius Makauskas (Poland), Rev. Edis Putrimas (Canada), Algis Rugienius (U.S.), Marytė Šmitiene (Germany), Gabrielius Žemkalnis (Australia), Laima Žliobienė (U.S.), and Youth Association Chairperson Rimas Baliulis (Germany). The new committee elected Vytautas Kamantas as their chairperson and Gabrielius Žemkalnis as LWC representative in Lithuania.
During the five-day session, the following subjects were discussed and resolutions and appeals were decided:
- goals for the Lithuanian World Community and the representative communities;
- Lithuania's road to NATO;
- Lithuanian education in Lithuania and abroad;
- linking Lithuania's organizations and institutions with LWC's projects;
- Lithuania's genocide and exile commemorations; and others.
During the Parliament, Lithuanias President Valdas Adamkus bestowed the Didžiojo Lietuvos Kunigaikščio Gedimino 2nd order medal of honor to the Lithuanian World Communitys President Vytautas Kamantas and the Educational Councils President Regina Kučienė.
The Xth Lithuanian World Community Parliament can be summed up with Vytautas Kamantas's words in his address to the representatives and guests. "We are one Lithuanian nation in the world, sisters and brothers throughout the world's continents, and for us there is but one Independent Lithuania."