Current Events

Kūčios celebrated in Lithuanian Communities

Various Lithuanian-American communities will be holding Kūčios (traditional Christmas Eve) dinners or luncheons in their parish or community halls during the month of December.

For example, the Philadelphia Lithuanian Scouts Association will be sponsoring their Traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dinner to be held at St. Andrew Church Parish Hall on Sunday, December 12, 1999 at 12:00 noon. Look up www.phillylac.org (new web site!) for more information. In addition, Philadelphia’s Annual Christmas Concert will be held on Dec. 26th with the St. Mark's Singers performing at St. Andrew Church at 2:00 p.m. Neat stuff!

The LCC Club in Kearny, New Jersey holds “Second Sunday Lunches” every month. December’s luncheon, on the 12th, will feature a visiting Lithuanian priest offering mass in Lithuanian in the LCCC Ballroom. This will be followed by an authentic “Kūčios” meal. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and children under 12 are half price. For more information, call 201-998-7761 or 973-857-3277.

In the Midwest, the Lithuanian World Center will be the site for a Christmas Fair on December 4th and 5th.

There will be many special events during the Christmas season. Be sure to check out your local Lithuanian-American Community chapters (lists appear on our web site www.javlb.org) for an event nearest you. In addition, last issue’s reviewed book, Lithuanian Customs and Traditions by Danutė Brazytė-Bindokienė contains many recipes, songs, and details for making this Christmas season quite festive! 

The IMF Meets With Lithuania's Adamkus

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was encouraged by meetings with government members and president Valdas Adamkus. However, signing new a bilateral deal would be agreed upon only after the final conclusions on Lithuania's next year budget deficit are summarized. This was announced by IMF's, representative in Lithuania, Mark Horton, after meeting president Adamkus in early November.

Horton considered the principal issues to be next year's fiscal deficit amount and the Russian ruble deposits restoration scheme. The Fund insists that the fiscal budget deficit should not exceed 2 percent by suspending the restoration of ruble deposits to Lithuanian residents and repaying loans granted by the government to Mažeikių Nafta Co.

Horton also confirmed that Lithuania would feel the consequences of the deals with U.S. Williams International and they would impact signing the IMF deal.

Signing of the memorandum with IMF usually gives bigger guarantees for foreign investors with regard to the stability of the country's economy. Lithuania is seeking to sign a 15-month stand-by agreement to provide the government with a possibility of borrowing up to $100 million if necessary.

Seimas Demands Peaceful Solution to Chechen Conflict

The Lithuanian Seimas (Parliament) expressed solidarity with the resolution from the Council of Europe's political committee that prompted the Russian authorities to halt war in Chechnya; to refrain from any actions which violate human rights; and to enter into a peaceful dialogue with the Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov elected through democratic polls.

The resolution encouraged both parties of conflict to seek for a peaceful solution. In addition, it bound the national delegation to the CE Parliamentary Assembly to firmly support all efforts. The resolution states that the Russian authorities should condemn the actions of its army against civilians and halt the total destruction of Chechnya.

As a special cause of concern it identified the attempts to wipe out the lawful power institutions of Chechnya and to kindle the chauvinist, extremist and militarist feelings among the Russian population which was taking the country away from the path of a democratic evolution.

The resolution referred to the concern of an increasing number of nations and international bodies over bloodshed in Chechnya, destruction of cities and villages, and the suffering of refugees.

This is a complex problem worth urgent consideration and evaluation at OSCE summit in Istanbul, the resolution said. The document was submitted by the parliamentary group for contacts with Chechnya. It scored the votes of 38 MPs to none against.

Lithuanian leader Valdas Adamkus attended the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) summit held in the Turkish city of Istanbul in early November.

This Month’s TRIVIA QUIZ

The Yiddish term “LITVAK” (Lithuanian) is used to define a person of Jewish origin living or descending from the area which was the territory of the Lithuanian state from the 13^th to the 18^th century.

Jews trace their origins in Lithuania back to the days of Grand Duke Gediminas, who founded the first Lithuanian State in the 14^th century. By the late 15^th century, there were already thriving communities. In time, Vilnius became known as the “Jerusalem of Lithuania”, a great center of Jewish religious learning.

Which country today has the most “LITVAKS”?

1. Lithuania
2. Israel
3. The United States of America
4. South Africa

See the answer

— Ed Shakalis

President Valdas Adamkus presented the 1st grade medal of Lithuanian Duke Gediminas Order to Lithuanian-American Pranė Šlutiene for her efforts to support Lithuania's health care institutions on November 10^th.

Šlutiene works as the vice-president of the U.S.-based Lithuanian Mercy Lift organization which operates from the Chicago/Lemont, Illinois area. Lithuanian Mercy Lift provides every kind of assistance to Lithuania's medical institutions, senior care residences, and handicapped persons. 

Sweden committed itself to bankroll the preparations of the Baltic states for European Union (EU) membership and business development with an extra 1 billion crowns, according to Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson.

While in Stockholm during the third week of November, Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, attended a working lunch held for the Lithuanian delegation. During the luncheon Persson accentuated the commitment of Stockholm to maintain assistance to the Baltic states.

The Lithuanian premier said he welcomed the initiative of the Swedish government to launch the project called "The Baltic States Year". The goals of which were to help the Baltics in preparation for EU entrance; make a better presentation of the nation for the Union; and maintain co-operation between Baltic countries and Sweden for the year 2000.

Persson was thanked for backing Lithuania in the field of foreign policy and implementing certain economic projects. He emphasized the importance of ties among all Baltic Sea states saying that this region was expected to emerge as a most dynamic area in Europe.

During the lunch, the Lithuanian Prime Minister provided a concise report on the national economic situation and future reforms, with a big focus primarily on privatization of the remaining large-scale energy entities.

City to Name Street for GM’s Zupkus

According to the Lansing State Journal, (Oct. 26, 1999) the city of Lansing, Michigan plans to name a street near a new General Motors Corp. factory after former plant manager Jim Zubkus. He retired in August after a 37-year career with GM.

The article states further that Zubkus was a key player in the company’s decision to build the Cadillac factory in Lansing. This is to be GM’s first new U.S. assembly factory since Saturn opened in Tennessee in 1990.

The proposed street — Zubkus Way — “seemed like the logical thing to do. Zubkus has been a strong advocate for us from Day One,” stated Lansing Mayor David Hollister.

Congratulations to Mr. Jim Zubkus. 

In the article "Lithuanians Jews make a big impact in South Africa" by Ed Stoddard, Rueters, June 12, 1998 , the author writes:

“Lithuanians dominate the Jewish community in South Africa to an extent seen in no other country, even their former home. We have around 80,000 to 90,000 Jews in South Africa, and about 80 percent of them are of Baltic descent, most of them from Lithuania,” said David Saks, an historian and researcher at the Jewish Board of Deputies in Johannesburg. “We probably have the most ‘Lithuanian’ Jewish community in the world,” said Saks, whose own grandparents came from Lithuania. This ratio even exceeds that of Lithuania itself as most of the Baltic state’s small Jewish community, now numbering a mere 5,000, comprises immigrants who arrived from different parts of the Soviet Union after World War II.”

"Back home, Lithuania's small surviving Jewish community continues its diverse tradition of public and private service. Several of its members are prominent businessmen while the one Jewish member of Lithuanian's parliament, Emmanuel Zingeris, heads its committee on human rights and minorities," added Stoddard.

— Source for News from Lithuania: ELTA