C u r r e n t E v e n t s
"Books to Note"
Showdown: The Lithuanian Rebellion and the Breakup of the Soviet Empire by Richard J. Krickus; March 1997; Brasseys Publishing Inc.; Hardcover -$24.95.
According to Booklist’s review on www.amazon. com, "political scientist Krickus argues that Lithuania’s secession from the Soviet Union in 1991 was a key (if usually ignored) element in President Gorbachev’s ouster and the demise of the Soviet Union. … Krickus was in Lithuania during 1991, acting as elections monitor, and his firsthand experiences, plus the book’s clean, vigorous prose, make this a compelling read." (Brian McCombie)
Lithuanian Diaspora: Konigsberg to Chicago by Antanas J. Van Reenan; 1992; 356 pages; University Press of America, Inc.; Hardcover-$53.00; Paperback-$29.50.
"Van Reenan traces the development of a Lithuanian sense of peoplehood and unravels their invisible configuration of values. By analyzing the dynamics of their diaspora mentality, the work presents a picture of people armed with an ideology that enable them to nonviolently confront the first principles of American nationality." University Press of America, Inc.
Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Serial) by John Noble, Nicola Williams (Contributor) and Robin Gauldie (Contributor); August 1997; 440 pages with 60 maps; Lonely Planet; $19.95.
This "Travel Survival Kit" covers the Baltic States and Kaliningrad which information on post-independence history, what to see and do according to all budgets, tips on dining and accommodations, and a section on the Baltic languages and Russian.
Lithuania Against Soviet and Nazi Aggression by Dr. Adolfas Damusis; 1998; 342 pages illustrated; The American Foundation for Lithuanian Research, Inc., 12690 Archer Ave. Lemont, IL 60439; Hardcover-$15.00.
This recently released and long-awaited book contains compiled and illustrated records documenting Lithuania’s fight against two aggressors.
Among the books released for children, grades five and six, detailing historical time periods and events, The History of Emigration from Eastern Europe by Sarah Horrell , was a great disappointment.
According to Ina Bertulyte-Bray, librarian in Seattle, WA, "this meager book attempts to cover a complex history of the migration of peoples, dating back centuries. The book suffers from major omissions. The author disregards the fact that the Soviet Union and its brutal political repression were the major factor in one of the greatest population shifts in the history of Europe. She fails to mention that during World War II, nearly one million Eastern European refugees (except Jews) fled west, almost exclusively into Germany, the far lesser of the two evils. The Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are either completely overlooked or misrepresented. It was Lithuania, not Poland, which in the Middle Ages, rules over vast areas of Europe. Already in 1940, the Soviet Union annexed and devastated these three independent countries.
Other historical mistakes in a book intended for children ages 10 to 13, make this book a very poor reference.
Polish Americans Work to Support Lithuania’s NATO Efforts
 |
A t the awards ceremony in the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Jan Nowak-Jezioranski is surrounded by (from left) Regina Narusis (LAC Inc. president), Audrone Pakstys (LAC Inc. Washington Office director), Mrs. Alma Adamkus, and the Republic of Lithuania’s President Valdas Adamkus.Photo from LAC Inc. Washington Office |
The Polish American Congress adopted a resolution supporting Lithuania’s NATO candidacy on October 31st, 1998. The resolution’s wording stated that the Congress "expresses its strong support for the admission of Lithuania to NATO at the next stage of the Alliance enlargement".
Mrs. Regina Narusis, LAC Inc. president, responded in a letter to the Congress’s president, Edward J. Moskal, that "it is reassuring to know that we will now have such able allies as the Polish American Congress supporting our efforts with the same enthusiasm we displayed in fighting for your NATO membership".
In addition, former Radio Free Europe Polish language editor, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski was awarded the Didziojo Lietuvos Kunigaikscio Gedimino Ordinas (a Lithuanian medal of honor) for his intensive work concerning Lithuanian-Polish relations. Nowak-Jezioranski stated that the 19th century Lithuanian-Polish Nation’s motto, "Freedom for you and us!" rings true to the support Poland felt from Lithuania and the support Poland has promised for Lithuania.
A Year 2000 Countdown
A new electronic clock is to be installed on Vilnius’s city hall tower showing the number of days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining to the year 2000. New Year’s Eve celebrations for meeting the year 2000 as an independent country are already being planned.
Source for news from Lithuania: ELTA News Service.
Lithuanian-Americans to Hold Governmental Posts
As of mid-January, the incumbent defense vice-minister, Lithuanian-American Jonas Kronkaitis, is very likely to become the new leader of Lithuania’s national army, ELTA sources reported.
A possible nomination of Kronkaitis to the seat of Commander-In-Chief was placed for consideration during the first week of January 1999 during a conference between Seimas Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis and President Valdas Adamkus.
Kronkaitis, who will be 64 soon, is a military equipment’s expert and has a record as a high-ranking administration officer in the U.S. missile industry. Kronkaitis had served for 27 years in the American army, including two years in the Vietnam War.
Before being appointed to vice-minister's seat in 1997, Kronkaitis had belonged to a group of U.S.-based Lithuanian officers who had worked up plans for the national defense of Lithuania: outlining ways how to build up effective military forces in line with NATO norms. The candidate holds a rank of Colonel and is a U.S. citizen.
Adamkus promised to confirm Kronkaitis’s nomination to the post of Commander-In-Chief only when agreement is reached on a nominee for the position of deputy in charge of Infantry Troops. This was still being discussed by a trilateral meeting of presidency, Seimas, and government officials.
Lithuanian-American Skirmante Kondratiene, a senior research associate at a Washington urban development institute, has undertaken the duties of consultant for social issues in the President’s office.
Holding Master's degrees in history and business administration, the new presidential consultant is an experienced analyst of social policy and a program manager working in social care policy, poverty and social development areas.
Earlier, she had taken part in projects for technical aid to nations forming their social care policies. Her other jobs were that of vice-minister at the U.S. Urban Development Department and manager of the national food program in the Agriculture Department.
In 1992, Kondratiene won an award, the "Golden Eagle" from the U.S. Urban Development Department for merits in streamlining programs for the homeless. Currently, the consultant holds a position of senior research associate at the project, "Evaluation of New Federalism", aimed to measure changing commitments made by U.S. federal, state, and local authorities to social programs and their influence on low-income families.
A recent decree by Adamkus delegated her to committee for implementation of a Copenhagen social declaration: drawing up the State Poverty Eradication Program. Here, Kondratiene will act as mediator between the committee and presidency.
She agreed to work for the presidential office on public grounds, without being paid, like other advisors of the country’s leader -- Lithuanian-Americans Raimundas Miezelis and Julius Smulkstys.
Parliament Alarmed by Russia’s Attitude Towards Lithuania
Lithuanian Seimas addressed the State Duma of Russia on January 7th in efforts to express friendly feelings towards the Russian nation and the parliament it elected, and congratulate it on the Orthodox Christmas and New Year.
"Let the spirit of mutual understanding and good neighborly relations between us grow stronger," said a statement drawn up by Parliament leader Vytautas Landsbergis. It gained support of fifty-four Lithuanian Ministers: with none being against and just eight abstained.
The statement also voiced concern for Russian diplomats’ sharpening line, without a just cause, towards an ever friendly Lithuania. There were also critical remarks about the formation of fighting units, called "In the Baltic direction," by Russia.
"Attempts to create of us a bogus "image of foe" has no grounds," said the parliament. It expressed the belief that the Duma would modify a 1993 law on social guarantees for Russian servicemen to be involved in armed conflicts in the Baltics.
"There is no need to project such conflicts. We can and will do our best to build up a friendly and secure climate for the nations to live and work," added the parliament statement.
Referring to the October 2, 1998 letter from the Duma, Seimas lamented that it carried errors. Therefore, Seimas repeatedly explained that the Russian-speaking population in Lithuania was entitled to citizenship and all social guarantees, irrespective of a person's nationality or political beliefs.
An Anniversary for Lithuania’s Flag
 |
The Lithuanian flag celebrated 80 years from the first time it was raised atop the Gedimino Pilis (Gediminas Castle Tower) in Vilnius on January 1st , 1999. The country’s officials and the public attended the solemn ceremony.
On January 1st, 1919, the flag was first raised. As ten military volunteers, led by Commandant Kazys Skirpa, helped raise the flag, people sang the national anthem. Six of the volunteers stayed behind as the first honor guards of the flag. On January 4th, extra guards were called to protect the Pilis due to Russian Bolshevik armed protests, the withdrawal of German soldiers, and the rage of Polish Legionaries. The Bolsheviks successfully broke through the guarded entrance on January 6th, and tore the flag’s yellow and green stripes leaving behind the red stripe to flutter on the flagpole.
The second time Lithuanians raised the flag was on August 26th, 1920 when the Lithuanian army returned to Vilnius. Yet, the same year on October 9th, when the Polish army occupied the capital, the flag was removed. Later, in 1928, the flag was secretly raised for February 16th with a black ribbon running through it as a symbol of the castle’s and the capital’s occupied status.
On October 29th, 1939, the flag was ceremoniously raised atop the Gedimino Pilis. By special directive four flags were raised: the large ceremony flag, the large flag intended for holidays, the medium-sized flag for weekdays, and the small flag used during rainy days. Resistance fighters raised the yellow, green and red flag twice during wartime: on June 23rd, 1941 and then on April 6th, 1944.
When Lithuanians raised the flag on October 7th, 1988, the seventh time in all, this marked the end to the Soviet rule. Its presence on Gedimino Pilis remains a symbol of the 80-year quest for independence.
Lithuania Records GDP Growth
The preliminary figures from Lithuania’s Statistics Department revealed that in the first nine months of 1998 Lithuania’s GDP soared 5.7 percent compared to the same interval in 1997 -- totaling 31.66 billion litas ($7.9 billion) based on existing prices.
In the third quarter of 1998, Lithuania’s GDP made up 11.5 billion litas ($2.87 billion); posting a growth of 3.2 percent. Such a GDP increase was due to higher volumes of construction, trade, relations, other business production, and real estate. u
U.S.-Baltic Charter Discussed
Implementation of the U.S.-Baltic Charter, which was sealed in Washington last January, was a subject of discussion between President Valdas Adamkus and U.S. Ambassador to Vilnius Keith Smith on January 5th.
Among the items discussed were guidelines for 1999 mutual co-operation. Adamkus expressed belief that the NATO summit in Washington, in April, would pass a ruling that would boost chances of Lithuania to join the alliance.
The meeting with the U.S. diplomat kicked off a series of working meetings to be held by the Lithuanian country leader with foreign envoys based in Vilnius this year. u
Exhibition of Currencies
The Lithuanian Central Bank sponsored a three-day exhibition of Euro and European Union (EU) currencies during the first week of January enabling Lithuanians to get acquainted with the EU currencies.
Visitors of the exhibition saw the Irish punt, Austrian shilling, Belgium francs, Spanish pesetas, Italian lires, Luxembourg francs, Portuguese escudos, French francs, Finnish markkas, German marks -- all national currencies of the 11 Euroland states joining EMU. It also introduced the common European currencies.
A separate exposition was arranged to show visitors currencies of EU states that decided to join EMU later -- Greek drachmas, British pounds, Danish and Swedish crowns.
Books and publications of EU currencies, technical characteristics of the banknotes and coins, and their security features were also presented.
European Union Applauds Cancellation Of Death Penalty
The European Union (EU) hailed Lithuanian parliament’s decision to repeal the death penalty. "This stride reinforces a commitment of Lithuania to ensure human rights," according to a statement released by the Foreign Minister of the EU, Wolfgang Schuessel.
The amendments to the Criminal Code of Lithuania that provide for commuting capital punishment to life imprisonment were adopted by the Parliament on December 21st, 1998. President Valdas Adamkus introduced the amendment after the Constitutional Court outlawed the death penalty.
The Parliament’s press service said, in a statement, the EU had heartened Lithuania to be quick to accede to the 6th protocol of European human rights and fundamental freedoms’ convention, which nullifies the death penalty.
Meanwhile, Croatia, Moldova, Romania and Macedonia had ratified this document earlier; although, their accession to the Council occurred later than that of Lithuania.
TV Dominates the Cultural Life Of Lithuanians
The Culture and Art Institute of Lithuania conducted a survey, "Cultural Life in Lithuania '98", which polled some 1,400 respondents with the purpose of assessing the public’s cultural and art awareness.
It disclosed that only 10 percent of pollsters showed a huge interest for culture and art. A so-so interest was recorded among 42 percent of respondents; while, 16 percent appeared to be quite indifferent.
A majority rated the cultural life in Lithuania as mediocre; although, 49 percent maintained they had observed improvement over the recent two years.
When asked whether the government was right in sponsoring art and culture, 48 percent answered in the affirmative. Nine percent of those polled disapproved of such assistance, and 43 percent spoke for support to individual artists by both the State and private sponsors.
Those polled also enjoyed theater, music, literature (fiction rather than poetry), painting, and ballet. Lithuanian films appealed to 34 percent of the local population.
The Man of the Year Title Goes to…
At the end of 1998 all the Lithuanian dailies took various public opinion polls and selected the most popular or famous figures, events, and state institutions .
President Valdas Adamkus, in addition to the title of most elegant man in Lithuania, was also the winner of the Man of the Year title of 1998, a survey of Baltijos Tyrimai (pollsters) revealed.
Other people appearing in Kauno Diena newspaper’s top influential people list were Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius, basketball star Arvydas Sabonis, and ex-President Algirdas Brazauskas.
Other Baltijos Tyrimai results indicated the mass media had the highest confidence of the people with 71 percent; the presidential service -- 65 percent; and the Church -- 62 percent. But the tax inspection and commercial banks could hardly enjoy such public trust, by scoring a meager 15 and 12 percent respectively.
A survey of Veidas ("Face") weekly magazine readers placed cyclist Diana Ziliute, 1998 winner of the global women's cycling race, as the luckiest person of 1998. Jonas Kazlauskas, the head coach of the national basketball team and Zalgiris club, came in second. Others on the luckiest people list were:
the former Chairman of Supreme Court, Pranas Kuris; the first Lithuanian judge to get a post in the International Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg,
Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius; described by the Magazine as managing "to finish the hard year, marked by crises and ordeals, triumphantly."
The five officers of The Organized Crime Investigation Service, Vilnius zone, had exposed the largest killer gang in Lithuania this century.
The Board Chairman of Lifosa Fertilizer factor, Danas Tvarijonavicius, whose company earned 44 million litas profit.
Businessman Viktoras Grodis; was lucky to escape from Chechen captivity right before the close of the year.
The list also included scientists at the Vilnius University laser center, authors of the historical TV broadcast "Butoves Slepiniai" ("Mysteries of Being"), and private Vilniaus Bankas Board Chairman Julius Niedvaras.
Listeners of Vilnius radio studio chose the Mayor of Vilnius, Rolandas Paksas, as the most popular Vilnius resident of 1998.
Nonetheless, television viewing topped the survey results by scoring 82 percent of the votes.