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Independence Day Celebration in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian- American Community and the Lithuanian Music Hall recently celebrated the 82nd anniversary of Lithuanian independence and the 10th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuanian independence.

On Feb. 20th, a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at St. George’s Church in Philadelphia. Msgr. Joseph Anderlonis, pastor of St. George’s and spiritual advisor to the Knights of Lithuania, celebrated the Mass and gave a very moving homily about the bravery of the Lithuanian people reclaiming their independence. Msgr. Leon Peck also participated in the celebration of the Mass.

Flag bearers of Lithuanian organizations and women in colorful costumes joined in the procession. Students brought traditional Lithuanian gifts of a Lithuanian cross, black bread, amber, and soil from Lithuania to the altar at the offertory from Vincas Krėvė School. Members of the Knights of Lithuania also brought offertory gifts to the altar. The students served as lectors; while, St. George's choir provided the music.

An afternoon program was held at the Lithuanian Music Hall. The American and Lithuanian national anthems were played by the Lithuanian Country Band under the direction of Lynn Cox; after which the invocation was delivered by Msgr. Anderlonis. The guests, who filled the hall to capacity, were greeted by George Karalius, President of the Lithuanian Music Hall, and Vytas Bagdonavičius, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian- American Community.

A representative of Philadelphia Mayor, John Street, read a greeting from the Mayor and delivered a proclamation signed by Mayor Street. Dr. Oskaras Jusys, Permanent Representative of Lithuania, gave the keynote address to the United Nations.

A photo collage entitled; "One Hundred Years in the Life of Lithuanian-Americans in Philadelphia" brought applause from the audience. The multimedia presentation was narrated by Roma Krušinskas and Vytas Bagdonavičius. Dalia Jakas, a representative of the Lithuanian Foundation, presented a foundation award to Vincas Krėvė principal, Danutė Surdėnas.

The Žilvinas dance group and the Children's Folk Dance Group under the direction of Estera Washofsky presented a medley of Lithuanian folk songs, folk dances and music. The Philadelphia Kanklės Ensemble was led by Brigita and Joseph Kasinkas. Violeta Razgaitis directed the Children's Choir.

A second photo montage, "1990—2000: Ten Years of Progress By Free Lithuania" was narrated by Dr. Nijolė Zambaitė, Minister Counselor, Embassy of Lithuania.

The finale, which has become a Philadelphia tradition, was the singing of Lietuva Brangi. The choirs, band, and audience participated in the closing song by linking arms. The masters of ceremonies were Irena Mauricienė and Vytas Mašalaitis. Programs and stage design coordinator was Gema Kreivėnas. A reception followed the program.

— Jeanne Dorr

Senator Honored by Lithuania

 Senator William V. Roth, Jr. (R-Delaware) received one of the highest recognitions given by the Lithuanian government. Vytautas Landsbergis, Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament, presented Sen. Roth with the Medal of the Order of the Grand Duke Gedimas on March 9th.

"This is a tremendous honor," Roth said. "coming from Chairman Landsbergis, whose proclamation of the restoration of Lithuanian independence on March 11, 1990, was one of the most significant milestones in his country is history, makes this recognition especially important."

On February 16th, Lithuanian Independence Day, the Parliament voted to confer this honor on Roth. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), Sen. Richard Lugar, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for "services to the cause of promotion of Lithuania in the world and for support to its integration into the global community of nations".

"When I visited Vilnius in 1998, I was moved by the nation’s remembrance of its past, its tremendous progress since its independence, and the unlimited optimism towards its future." said Roth. "Lithuania has been a partner and good friend to the United States, and I have long supported Lithuanian efforts to join Western organizations such as NATO and the European Union. I believe these efforts should be recognized, and that Lithuania’s candidacy for NATO deserves strong consideration at the 2002 NATO summit -- if not sooner." 

New Russian Duma Liaison

Deputy of the Russian State Duma, Alexander Chyuyev, was elected group coordinator for relations with the Lithuanian parliament on April 14th.

Shortly after his appointment, he told BNS that a working schedule would be coordinated with Lithuanian counterparts within the next several weeks.

"We will contact the leaders of the Lithuanian parliament this or next week in order to start exchanging visits in May," said Chyuyev, who has been awarded a medal for his support to Lithuania during the bloody events of January 1991.

He said that one of the main goals of the working group could be the use of the experience of Lithuanian-Russian relations for Russia's ties with the other two Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia.

Chyuyev said that he is acquainted with Lithuanian Parliamentary Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis, a few ministers, and the Christian Democratic and Conservative MPs.

As one of the leaders of the Russian Christian Democratic Party, the Russian deputy assisted in organizing a series of protest rallies in Moscow against the Soviet aggression in the Baltic countries in January 1991.

The Russian Christian Democratic Party is now a part of the pro-governmental Unity movement, and Chyuyev is a member of the Unity faction. 

The U.S. Makes Recommendations Regarding NATO Admission

The U.S. believes that Lithuania's NATO aims require wide public support, approval of political parties, stimulation of economic growth, and an increase of defense funds, said the director of the U.S. Department of Defense's European and NATO Division, Joseph Garrett.

He made the statement at an annual meeting of the U.S.-Lithuanian working group in Washington on April 8th.

Garrett and the head of the Lithuanian delegation, Defense Vice-Minister Romas Kilikauskas, noted at their meeting that "realities" have changed since 1997, said the Lithuanian Embassy to the U.S.

The U.S. Senate has demanded from the administration that the accepting of new members would be justified, and the readiness of candidate-states would be confirmed by facts.

Garrett said that his country sees Lithuania's resolution and progress. The members of the U.S. delegation assured their Lithuanian counterparts that NATO and the U.S. remain loyal to the "open door" policy.

The consultations between Lithuania and the U.S. are held in accordance to the U.S.-Baltic Charter signed in 1998 when the parties agreed on the establishment of bilateral economic and defense-security working groups.

Belarusians Fear Occupation

The deployment of a large unit of Russian and Belarusian troops in Belarus will mean the occupation of the country, Belarusian opposition leader Semyon Sharetsky said in a press release on April 13th.

The statement was made in reaction to a proposal made by Belarusian hardline President Alexander Lukashenko to Russia on deployment of a joint 300,000-member unit in Belarus.

"For Belarus, it will mean an occupation of its territory by an enormous army of a foreign country because Belarusian forces are only about 80,000-strong. Therefore, over 200,000 Russian troops will be brought into the country," said the leader of the disbanded Belarusian Supreme Soviet.

"Belarus is already practically governed by an occupation administration, the top posts of which are taken by people from Russia, mainly servicemen or staff members of special services. They are openly Russifying local people," said Sharetsky.

"What will happen if a 200,000-member Russian army is brought into the Belarusian territory? Can we talk about independence and sovereignty in this case? What will be the fate of Belarusian people?" reads a press release by the Belarusian opposition leader who has been living in Lithuania since the summer of 1999.

Lukashenko's "reckless step", which he says is a response to an allegedly dangerous approach of NATO forces to Belarusian borders, is a "challenge to the peaceful humanity," said Sharetsky.

The Belarusian opposition leader reiterated that all agreements signed by the Lukashenko-led administration after its term in office expired on July 20 last year are void.

New Statistics Show Changes in Lithuania

About 940,000 pensioners were registered in Lithuania as of the end of 1999, which indicates that more than one fourth of Lithuanian population of 3.7 million was of pension age, said Lithuania's Statistics Department.

According to the department's Public Relations Division's press release, the Lithuanian population dropped by 48,400 to 3.70 million over the past eight years. The population started to drop in 1992 for the first time after World War II.

The natural increase of the population has been below zero ever since 1994; with the death rate topping the birth rate by about 4,000 on an annual basis.

The number of students started to rise in 1994, after over a decade of decrease, standing at 644,000 in 1994, as compared with 774,000 in 1999.

The employment structure has also been subject to major changes over the past decade. The number of those employed in industry and construction has seen a sharp drop, while more people took situations in the services industry.

The number of people working in the state-owned sector was on the decline as more people transferred to the private sector. About 10 percent of the employed part of the population worked in the private sector in 1990, as compared with 68 percent in 1998.

According to the Statistics Department, there has also been a slight drop in impoverishment. If 50 percent of average consumer expenses is considered a relative factor of poverty, the poverty level stood at 18 percent in 1996 dropping down to 15.8 percent in 1999.

The portion of a household's food expenditures has been dropping since 1994, with about 39 percent of all consumer expenses going towards food last year.

Lithuania Praised for Deciding to Shut Down Ignalina

Prime ministers of the Baltic Sea states have praised Lithuania at the regional forum for its determination to decommission the Ignalina nuclear power plant and for its initiative on cooperation with the Russian Kaliningrad region.

The forum of prime ministers of the eleven states, members of the Baltic Sea States Council (BSSC), was held at the Danish city of Kolding on April 13th.

The participants of the forum, especially from Scandinavian states, have praised Lithuania's determination to decommission the first power unit at the Ignalina nuclear power plant by 2005, and urged the European Union (EU) and the European Commission to assist Lithuania in carrying out this task.

The Danish Prime Minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, said that it was a brave decision to decommission the plant step by step and therefore it deserves to be supported financially.

"You have made the decision not only for your own benefit, but for the benefit of the entire region as well and, therefore, it is our duty to make a contribution towards the solution of the problem," the Danish prime minister said.

The Danish prime minister underscored that the decommissioning of the Ignalina plant should be supported by both the European Commission and by individual EU states.

The Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, said in support of his Danish counterpart, that "Ignalina is our common problem."

Lithuania's initiative on strengthening ties with the Russian Kaliningrad region and involving it in European projects was especially appreciated at the discussion of regional cooperation. A representative from the European Commission described joint Lithuanian-Russian projects involving the EC and EU countries as an "exemplary initiative".

Early in April, it had been noted that the United States would offer financial assistance to Lithuania for the decommissioning of Ignalina, according to U.S. deputy secretary of state for economic, business and agricultural issues, Alan P. Larson. Larson is the head of a U.S. delegation which had attended a session of economic consultations with Lithuania during the first week of April in Vilnius.

The U.S. representatives were briefed on the progress Lithuania had made in its integration into the European Union (EU) and World Trade Organization. Larson told reporters following the consultations about the obligation made by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to ensure further cooperation with Lithuania and support Lithuania's programs for economic development.

The Baltic state's government confirmed in early March a law on the decommissioning of the first out of two RBMK-type power units by Jan. 1, 2005. The law is still to be endorsed by the parliament.

The costs of the closure of the first reactor are expected to total at about 20 billion litas (USD 5 bln.); however, the expenditures will be distributed over several decades.

The head of the Lithuanian delegation for the U.S. talks, Foreign Vice-Minister Algimantas Rimkūnas, said that the U.S. ranks second in terms of its investments in Lithuania – now amounting to some 276 million US dollars. In terms of mutual trade turnover, the U.S. is Lithuania's tenth partner in foreign trade. 

Lithuania's Sea Shore to be Safeguarded

The Lithuanian Seimas [parliament] ratified on April 13th the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage and the International convention on setting up the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.

At present, Lithuania's laws do not regulate issues with regard to taking out compulsory insurance on tanker owner's civil liability and entitlement to claim and receive compensation for pollution damage from international organizations.

After the ratification of the international conventions, in the event of an accident involving pollution damage, Lithuania would be entitled to claim up to 745 million litas [USD 186.25 mln] in compensation for pollution damage on its territory or in its territorial waters from the owner of the vessel, his insurance company, or from the International Oil Pollution Damage Compensation Fund.

The conventions will come into effect in 12 months. 

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Sunlight (Saulutė) Orphan Aid for Lithuania helps needy families, disabled children in foster homes, orphanages, and smaller group homes. It also has a sponsor-a-child program, where benefactors can sponsor a particular child for a year, by donating $20 per month.

Donations of clothing, books, hearing aids, walkers, hygiene products, bed linens, toys, and vitamins are sent to group homes. Typewriters and computers are very useful for the handicapped children. Financial aid is given directly to needy university students, poor families adopting or fostering orphans or abandoned children.

These are difficult times… Indrė Tijunėlis, the chairperson of the endeavor, writes: “We would be extremely grateful if you would support our efforts by making a donation, taking an ad or placing a greeting in our program booklet. For a full page the donation is only $100, for half a page $50, and for a quarter page $25. Donations are tax deductible.”

Please make out the check to the SUNLIGHT ORPHAN AID, and forward to 419 Weidner Road,Buffalo Grove, Il. 60089. Tax I.D. #36-3003339. Please include a copy of your add or greeting, or your business card may serve as your ad.

Sunlight Orphan Aid for Lithuanian is having its annual benefit concert for the year 2000 on Sunday, May 28, at 3:00 PM in the Lithuanian Youth Center, 5620 S. Claremont, Chicago. Proceeds will benefit needy Lithuanian children regardless of their nationality or religion. For additional information: Indrė Tijunėlis — (847) 541-3702 or 537-7949 or Aušra Saulis - secretary -(708) 425-4266.

— Almus Šalcius

Troops Give to Klaipeda Children's Home

Lithuanian and U.S. troops handed a charity gift to two children's homes of Lithuania's port city Klaipėda on April 14th. U.S. Defense Attaché to Denmark and Marine Attaché to Lithuania, Captain Eldon Carl Swanson, and officers of the Lithuanian Navy donated a refrigerator and two TV sets.

The Lithuanian Navy said that a U.S. church participated in the project with Lithuanian and U.S. servicemen. 

Learn Lithuanian!

The 15th annual Lithuanian Language Course at Camp Dainava, Manchester, Michigan will take place from August 6th to the 13th, 2000. This intensive course, operating under the auspices of the Educational Council of the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. is designed for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students, or those just wishing to refresh their Lithuanian.

The course is taught by experienced instructors in vacation-like surroundings and atmosphere. There are no limitations regarding age or formal education. For more information, please contact Mr. Vytautas Jonaitis, 1546 Quarry N. W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504; phone 616-458-6378; e-mail: vjonaitis@juno.com.

—Vytautas Jonaitis

Desperately Seeking…Lithuanian Folk Costumes

We are looking to buy or borrow (rent) your currently unused Lithuanian folk costume for our younger generation of dancers. We are looking for costumes of all sizes that were woven in pre-war Lithuania, post war (DP) Germany, Canada, or woven in the USA.

We will take extraordinary care of the costumes and will appreciate them like no one else. If you would like your costume to have a new, loving, and tender home, please contact Rėda Pliura at 262-637-3585 or Violeta Fabionovich at 773-436-1624. Thank you.