Your Excellency President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė,
Excellency Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius,
First Head of the restored independent state of Lithuania, Chairman of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas and Member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis and the spouse,
Members of the initiative group and Seimas Council of the Lithuanian reform movement Sąjūdis,
Members of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas and Signatories to the 11 March Act of Independence,
Members of the Lithuanian reform movement Sąjūdis, frontrunners of the Sąjūdis from around Lithuania, members of the Sąjūdis Council,
Fighters for Lithuania’s freedom and families of those who died for freedom,
Excellencies Ambassadors,
Current and former Members of the Seimas and the European Parliament, Members of the Government,
Members of the first Government of the restored independent Republic of Lithuania,
Distinguished guests,
This year we celebrate an anniversary which is extremely significant for our nation and state – the 25th anniversary of the Lithuanian reform movement Sąjūdis, the most important anniversary to tell the story of Lithuania and its freedom.
The historic movement which began 25 years ago has irreversibly changed the life of our nation and our country. Lithuania has become a free and independent state.
Members of the Sąjūdis and fighters for Lithuania’s freedom,
This is your merit. We achieved this thanks to your unity, courage, determination, self-sacrifice and aspiration to work “for the sake of this land”. I extend my sincere gratitude to you.
Unfortunately, a part of those outstanding people who founded the Sąjūdis and stood in the front lines are no longer with us. Regrettably, they did not live to see the 25th anniversary of the Sąjūdis.
I invite you to observe a minute of silence in honour of the dead.
Thank you.
Today we have an excellent occasion to recall the developments of 25 years ago and remember the unity of the people in the name the common and essential goal, the unity which was universal.
It was a noble goal, which gave an immense moral and spiritual strength. This strength surpassed any material goods.
The people did not discern ‘mine’ from ‘yours’ or ‘ours’ from ‘yours’. They were united as never before. It was universal awakening and revival.
The movement began all across Lithuania and spread among all age groups and occupations. There were no divisions. Unity prevailed and people made every effort to help each other because they felt they had to do so.
Today we all should recall, understand and realise once again the meaning, spirit, achievements and principles of the Sąjūdis. And apply these very principles in all the spheres of our life. Sadly, we sometimes forget to follow these principles.
Initiative and, in particular, responsibility for our words and actions and for everything should become our obligation and goal, just as it was 25 years go. First of all, we must serve our people. This is the key lesson and message of the Sąjūdis that is relevant today as never before.
We must recall the spirit, rhetoric and declarations of the time.
I would like to quote some thoughts and ideas from the inaugural meeting of the Lithuanian reform movement Sąjūdis and its Resolution:
To restore mutual trust and concord among the population of the whole Republic. To consider universal human values a priority over the political ones and apply this principle in all the spheres of social life.
To restore public trust in social justice and enable all the population to take an equal part in the economic life of the country.
The moral authority, financial welfare and social status of every member of society should be determined by honest and fairly remunerated work for the sake of society rather than a social, political party or national background.
It is evident that the principles declared 25 years ago are even more important today, which especially applies to our words and actions. We must follow these principles every day, every hour and every minute.
Members of the Sąjūdis,
We are grateful to you for your courage, determination, and high aspirations. However, the state remembers you less often than you would like to. This situation should change.
Therefore, I urge you be more active. Do not be afraid to take action. Express your ideas even if they are critical and unacceptable to many. Remind us about yourselves, and do it loudly and decisively. Since only this way you can get a response you wish and hope for.
We need to revive the spirit of the Sąjūdis. And we must do it by joint effort. We must take action to teach young people about that period in history and the goals of the time. This is our joint responsibility. And those who have been engaged in the Sąjūdis since the very beginning of the process can do it best!
Today Lithuania needs you no less than it needed you then. Today Lithuania needs the same revival and unity in the name of working people. Not “for a bit of gold, and a spoonful of tasty food”, but for the nation and the state.
I believe that one more Sąjūdis, perhaps different in its form but the same in its nature, is possible.
I believe that we will see it come. Thank you.
