Current Events

The Chairman of Seimas Parliament, Vytautas Landsbergis, spoke in favor of political protests and influence on Belgrade's government, at the same time lamenting that NATO actions were helpless to halt mass expulsion of Albanians and killings in Kosovo province.

In a statement Landsbergis, called the mass expulsion of people from Kosovo similar to the 1949 civilian deportations to the USSR from Lithuania. The 50th anniversary of this event was recently commemorated.

"This was done by a country that occupied Lithuania, which is qualified as a particular war crime. The political and military government of Soviet Union thus sought to crackdown the resistance of Lithuania and execute a genocide following its own methodology." The concept or terminology of ‘ethnic cleansing’ was not used yet according to Landsbergis.

The document also noted that "nowadays Russia and its political government so far have not assessed the crimes of the Soviet Union’s past against conquered nations, and this circumstance influences the present. Today the incidences of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide are repeated in the Balkan region."

Lithuania’s Parliament sanctions peacekeepers in Bosnia

Up to 160 Lithuanian servicemen of the Baltic battalion are to join the NATO-led peace stabilizing operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina next month for a half-year period and make up part of the Danish battalion.

The peacekeepers are to replace another Lithuanian group that has remained in Bosnia since October. It included 40 Lithuanian servicemen with a combined number of Baltic peacekeepers at 202. The participation of Lithuanian servicemen in this international operation received Seimas’ blessings on April 6th. Sixty lawmakers gave their votes in favor of the increase, with four being against and seventeen abstaining.u

Lithuania begins its first phase to shut down Ignalina

The Lithuanian government formed a commission for representing the nation in a joint working team of a Lithuania and European Commission. They will be setting both the date and costs of the planned Ignalina nuclear power plant's shut down. This is a necessary step before Lithuania can be considered for the European Union.

Its further task will be to produce information about the necessary financial support from the European Union or other international sources, the social and economic aftermath, and the environmental expenses.

In March, the head of the European Commission's (EC) delegation to Vilnius, Ambassador Henrik Schmiegelow rebuked the government for delaying the formation of the working team. According to the European diplomat, the EC planned to delegate to the group chiefs of directorate units. It has already chosen a candidate for leading the Commission's delegation.

Economy Vice-minister Viktoras Valentukevicius will guide the Lithuanian group. Among its members are officials and experts from the Energy Agency; Institutes for Energy, Economy and Labor, and Social Research; the European Committee; and finance, foreign and social ministries.u

Germany’s support of Lithuania assured

The German government re-affirmed its support of Lithuania for the European Union (EU) talks scheduled for this fall. In a letter to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in February, Emanuelis Zingeris, the Chairman of Seimas Human Rights Committee, asked to confirm the historical commitment of Germany to the Baltic States.

The Lithuanian lawmaker referred to a speech by former German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel in Riga. He had declared that Germany "was historically responsible for the fate of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, regarded itself as an advocate of these countries, and felt political and moral duty to build their path back to Europe."u

Historical painting highlighted in Lithuania

The Polish painting "Bitwa pod Grunwaldem" (Battle of Tannenberg) by Jan Mateijko started a tour from Warsaw to the Lithuanian capital in April, according to the director of the Lithuanian Art Museum Romualdas Budrys. The exhibition was inaugurated in Vilnius by the presidents of both Lithuania and Poland on April 14th.

The trip of the Polish masterpiece to Vilnius is only the fourth transportation abroad of this unique painting in a post-war period. Hidden by Polish culture patriots from invaders during World War II under ground for a few years, the painting was damaged significantly and needed extensive restoration.

The exhibition in Vilnius also includes valuable sets of weapons and flags from the Polish Army Museum, with part of a flag set including fifteen reconstructed flags of the German Order and its allies. These had been taken during the Battle of Tannenberg (1410) as trophies and stored in Krakow for years.

Fortunately, the flags had been painted in chronicles as the original ones disappeared later. Thus the drawings were of great use for reconstruction of crusaders’ flags.

The other part of the flag set includes 15 reconstructed flags of Lithuanian, Polish, and allied troops that had fought in the Battle. The most valuable items in the weapons collection are an authentic shield of a German foot soldier, and the most dangerous firearm of that time -- an arbalest. (a medieval cross bow with a steel bow — M.-Webster Dictionary).u

A Battle of Tannenberg
Trivia Quiz

On July 15, 1410 a decisive battle, one of the biggest in the history of the Middle Ages, permanently weakened the Teutonic Order. The two opposing armies met outside the village of Grunwald (also known as Tannenberg). On one side were the Teutonic Knights, with Western European mercenaries and on the other side were the Lithuanian-Polish-Ruthenian army supported by Czech and vassal Tartar contingents.

The question is: "How many Teutonic Knights including western European Mercenaries were killed at the Battle of Tannenberg-Grunwald?"
8,000 20,000 600
See the answers,
Although this is not the Polish painting on tour, this a 17th century engraving depicting the Battle. — Ed Shakalis

First savings certificates hit Lithuania’s financial market

The first issue of six-month savings certificates was released in early April to the Lithuanian financial market and will be on sale for a month.

Annual interest of the savings certificates stands at 10.5 percent. The government papers would be redeemed on October 28; although, all wishing might redeem them earlier. The nominal value of these government savings certificates is 100 litas or $25 US.

The Finance Ministry hoped that the new type of government securities would be interesting to individual investors; especially those who do not want to keep their money in banks. Interest paid for a government savings certificate is higher as compared to that paid for bank deposits, currently averaging 6 percent. Although this is lower than that paid for treasury bills standing at 12 percent. The government guarantees the security of investments.

Concert at Library of Congress

Chairman of Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis and his wife Grazina Rucyte-Landsbergis performed in a concert at the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress on March 5th, 1999. The concert was held to foster awareness, understanding and peace through the exchange of culture ideas.

The George Mason University Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Stanley Engebretson, performed the opening numbers. The singers performed three songs including a Lithuanian folk song. Mrs. Landsbergis accompanied mezzo-soprano Patricia Miller.

Professor Landsbergis’ selections were from the works of Lithuanian composer M. K. Ciurlionis. The songs were from his compact disc, "Born of the Human Soul’ which is available on the EMI label. The concert was free of charge and opened to the public. Seated in the audience were Congressman Jon Shimkus of Illinois, and the Ambassadors of Poland, Iceland, and the Czech Republic.u

New Jersey News

The second Sunday Lunch is in full swing at the LCC Club, 6 Davis Ave., Kearny, NJ from noon to 4:00 p.m. The May luncheon, which falls on Mother’s Day, will feature concert pianist, Dr. Fran Covalesky, performing works of Ciurlionis and a program on his life and accomplishments. There is no admission fee.u

New York News

A concert featuring Andrius Mamontovas will be presented by the Versme Chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community at the Lithuanian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY, on April 30, Friday, at 7:30 p.m. (starting time may change). You are invited for an evening of music and dancing. Additional details about this event will be provided at a later date. Admission is $15.00. Please call either Donatas at 718-951-4111 or Jurgita at 718-739-8257 to receive updated information and to purchase tickets.u

The only female sheriff in Maryland is Lithuanian

Baltimore County has the distinction of having the nation’s only left-handed female sheriff of Lithuanian extraction, Anne Strasdauskas. She was elected during the fall 1998 elections and plans to improve the lot of deputy sheriffs.

According to the Towson Times, Strasdauskas, 44, remains energetic and still works out regularly to maintain the fitness she coveted as an ice speedskater who trained for the 1984 Olympic Games at Sarajevo until suffering a knee injury.

Strasdauskas shares a home with her parents Joseph and Evelyn in north country Freeland.u

U.S. leaders recognized

The Central and East European Coalition recognized and honored Sen. Joseph Biden, Sen. William Roth, Rep. Sonny Callahan, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi for supporting Poland’s, the Czech Republic’s, and Hungary’s admission into NATO at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 24th. In addition they continue their work by extending their support for Lithuania’s entrance into NATO.

Sen. William Roth is surrounded by (from left) Nerije Kaspariene, Audrone Pakstiene (LAC Wash. Office Dir.), Sen. Roth, Viktoras Nakas (LAC Wash. Chair.), Romas Kasparas, Dr. Danute Tupikiene, and Darius Degutis (Lith Embassy Advisor).