Current Events

Caregivers to Lithuania Have a Chance to Share

The Lithuanian Human Services Council of the USA., together with the Embassy of Lithuania and the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. Washington D. C. Chapter, invite you to participate in the "Gift to Lithuania" Conference on November 5 to 7, 1999 at the Key Bridge Marriott (1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209)

The purpose of this conference is to:

• summarize the work that has been done;
• analyze what has and has not worked;
• gain an understanding of what is still required;
• obtain information from individuals who have worked and continue to work in Lithuania and with Lithuania’s people in providing humanitarian assistance.

The Conference will begin with a "get acquainted" reception and end after symposiums and workshops.

The Organizing Committee is made up of Jūratė Budrys (chair), Algis Augaitis, Birutė Jasaitis, Rita Kazragas, Ramunė Kligys, Saulius Kuprys, Jurgis Lendraitis, and Dr. Vytautas Narutis. The Committee asks that those interested in attending, register in advance by sending your full name, address, phone number together with the registration fee of $85.00 per person to:

Jūratė Budrys
8015 S. Karlov
Chicago, IL 60652.

Make checks payable to: Lithuanian Human Services Council.

Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Key Bridge Marriott at 1-800-228-9290, mentioning the "Group Code LITO" and that you will be participating in the November 5th to the 7th, 1999 Conference. The room rate is $104.00 per room per night.

If you need more information, please call Jūratė Budrys at 773-284-6786.

Vilnius University Jubilee

A series of events devoted to the 420th jubilee of Vilnius University culminated in a conference entitled "Vilnius University in History -- History at Vilnius University" held on September 24th.

Lithuania's president Valdas Adamkus and his predecessor Algirdas Brazauskas also arrived at the solemn event to pay homage to the academic community.

In his discourse to the conference's participants, the rector of Vilnius University Prof. Rolandas Pavilionis said that on the occasion of this jubilee, "the University's book of honor was replenished by three new names of scientists.” Honorary doctorates were conferred to rector of Muenster University Prof. Maria Wasna, Professor of Krakow's papal theology academy Ludwik Piechnik, and the rector of Danish Aalborg University Prof. Swen Lars Caspersen.

Polish historian Prof. Piechnik spoke about the beginning of Vilnius University, and economist Prof. Caspersen reviewed the political motifs of the university's foundation at the festive conference.

Vilnius University, the oldest higher school of Lithuania, has been holding numerous scientific conferences and events since early September of 1999 to mark its 420th anniversary.

Seimas Approves State Budget Cut

After deliberations, which took more than a month, Seimas approved a proposal on October 15th to cut this year's state budget. The budget's income and expenses will be reduced by 450 million litas or 6.2% (US $112.5 million) and will amount to 6.761 billion litas, according to the Lietuvos Rytas.

This is the first time that the state budget had been cut by such a significant amount. The budget amendment was approved by 72 parliamentarians; 18 lawmakers voted against; and 17 abstained from voting. Members of the opposition, as the Labor Democratic, Social Democratic, Center, and other factions, did not take part in voting or voted against the proposal.

Conservative faction deputy leader Alfonsas Bartkus admitted that the decision to approve of such a budget project was not an easy one. However, the MP noted that the Government should fulfil its obligations without any hindrances. He further urged the Government to execute a strict tax administration policy.

Social Democratic faction leader Aloyzas Sakalas claimed that the ruling coalition attempted to push the state into poverty again. Labour Democratic faction member Sigita Burbienė stated that the budget amendment did not correspond to reality. The opposition pointed out that the budget lacked more than one billion litas in planned income.

Soviet Genocide Marked in Lithuania Minor

The 55th anniversary of the tragic events in Lithuania Minor (the present Kaliningrad enclave) was marked at a conference held by the Council for Lithuania Minor Issues in Vilnius on October 16th. The Council had asked Seimas for this commemoration since 1994.

The conference commemorated the events dating back to October 16th, 1944, when Soviet troops invaded the environs of the former Karaliaučius (Kaliningrad) region starting a massacre a few days later.

The Bolsheviks used to regard the people of Lithuania Minor, including the Klaipėda region occupied by Nazis in 1939, as Germans and thought it was necessary to avenge them for the sufferings caused by Nazis to Russia.

The organizers of the mournful anniversary conference told ELTA that Karaliaučius's residents had witnessed all the atrocities: civilians lying on the ground after being run over by Soviet tanks, girls nailed to a barn door, and old women killed in a sadistic way. The bodies of some 50 French war prisoners, witnesses of the Soviet troops' atrocities, were lying in a pile. In the seaside area, the Soviet planes bombed refugees. Also, children were forced to dig a pit for burying ill and exhausted people alive. The experts who carried out the research into the genocide of Lithuania Minor said that at least 300,000 civilians, of them 40 percent Lithuanians, were killed during the genocide.

Former KGB Agent to Represent Russia in Lithuania

The new Russian envoy to Lithuania Jury Zubakov handed in his credentials to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus in October. The new envoy is an experienced former KGB official keeping close ties with the former Russian Prime Minister and intelligence chief Jevgeny Primakov, according to the Respublika daily.

The Russian ambassador noted to the Lithuanian leader that both states "had a number of links both in international and in European policy".

"I hope that Lithuania, which enjoys such a convenient geographic situation and outer ties, will serve as a link between the East and the West in the future also. I hope that Lithuania will help to develop regional co-operation, create the architecture of a united Europe, and strengthen stability and security in Europe." noted the diplomat.

President Valdas Adamkus plans to visit Moscow in December.

Another Gold for Lithuanian Cyclist

Lithuanian cyclists triumphed again at the women's World Road Race Championship in Verona, Italy where Edita Pučinskaitė won a gold medal and took the title of the world champion, the Lietuvos Rytas reported.

The Italy-based Pučinskaitė took the title from her colleague Diana Ziliūtė, who won the same title last year in the Netherlands. This time Ziliūtė, 23, came away with the bronze medal.

After the race, Pučinskaitė was quoted as saying, "I do not consider myself a champion yet. To become a real champion I have to win more races."

Attention: Calling All Writers

BRIDGES is looking for articles about your Lithuanian community with photos. In addition, a layout/graphics person who is computer-literate in the use of Microsoft Word and Publisher and e-mailing techniques interested in working with BRIDGES, please contact Rasa Ardys-Juška at 1212 Mohegan Rd., Manasquan, NJ 08736 or send e-mail inquiry to www.javlb.org/bridges — click on “comments?”.

For Avid Readers…

New subscribers of Lithuanian magazines and newspapers have an opportunity to subscribe for less than the standard rate. This would be a great time to take care of those Christmas presents for your relatives and friends. BRIDGES and LITUANUS are English-language magazines, and the rest are Lithuanian-language media. All of the choices below provide valuable information and interesting reading.