22 November
Distinguished Signatories to the Act of Independence, Dear Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This conference commemorates Lithuania’s “Road to Freedom”. The simple words “Road to Freedom” have acquired a unique and magical meaning in Lithuania. They now signify the shift from the totalitarian regime marked by gloom, fear and despair to an era of democracy and freedom. As members of the journey, Lithuanians alongside with the other Baltic nations made a massive step to another epoch.
The path we took was the restoration of the state by the parliament, anything but a new phenomenon in the global history. Indeed, more often than not, parliaments undertake the role of guiding awakening nations to freedom, serving as beacons on the road to independence.
Today, we are joined in this hall by the Chairmen of the Supreme Councils of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The Supreme Councils of these countries performed the role of genuine icebreakers breaking the apparently eternal ice on our long road to freedom. Let us welcome Mr. Vytautas Landsbergis, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania and the Reconstituent Seimas, Mr. Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Latvia, Mr. Arnold Rüütel, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Estonia, Mr. Stanislav Shushkievich, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus, and Mr. Vladimir Griniov, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine.
The road to freedom, independence and democracy never was and never will be a bed of roses. There is a nationwide remembrance in Lithuania of the ruthless and treacherous external resistance to our struggle for independence, which even involved the use of military force. Today we feel safer as members of NATO and the EU. However, we have to admit that internal problems cause us serious concern; particularly pressing are the problems of the lack of civic and political culture, and at times unnecessary obstacles are created simply through the faults of irresponsible management.
I think what explains all these phenomena is the fact that our patriotism has waned, even though joint efforts and solidarity were the most important and by far the single weapon we used in our struggle for freedom. The 13 January attested to the might of our effort. I am willing to believe that our people and the state will find ways to bring the patriotic spirit back to our lives. This process will involve the restoration of the people’s trust in their state and the trust of the state in its people. Essentially, we all need the same thing – better and safer lives.
We were unwavering in our belief in the just cause of the “Road to Freedom” and determined to pursue it. This allowed us to rejoin Europe, not in the physical nor geopolitical sense of the word, but in terms of spirituality, national identity and human dignity. We demonstrated to the international community that we successfully defended our freedom and proved we deserved it.
Today, we can afford to make a pause and assess the journey we have made by asking ourselves if we truly and sufficiently appreciate the freedom we have gained. Does it occupy the right place in our minds; do give meaningful to freedom through our daily efforts? Finally, are we not estranged from it by our daily routines, our culture, customs and habits? Are we always able to act as Europeans?
As we cast a glance on the past and take a panoramic view of the road to freedom behind us, we can make an overview of the efforts made and the results achieved. In the outset, while the foreign army was still on our territory, we started moving towards freedom in the country still clasped in the totalitarian grip. After this came the time when we were all involved in the process of establishing a plethora of new democratic institutions in an effort to enforce the statehood and democracy. Next, we embarked on the interminable process of structural reform and faced the difficulties fraught with its implementation; in some cases we even had to change the direction of reform altogether...
What does this all add up to? Did the past efforts meet our expectations? Not always, I dare say. An insight into the present day political agenda cannot conceal the fact it is dominated by social issues. Social bills passed in parliament are as numerous as ever; the Government’s focus on their implementation is stirringly sharp. This could even be presented as an achievement.
However, let us shift focus from the legal framework to the social realities of the nation, its daily life, and the genuine quality of the existing democracy. Does it meet our expectations; can we sit back and relax now that we are back in the European community of nations?
What we all need to realise is that democracy is not about institutions; it is all about values. Establishment of democracy is not an end in itself; democracy needs to be cherished and constant efforts should be made for it to mature. The same applies to freedom. By the time we understand this we will deserve Independence, Freedom and Democracy. However, these three crucial preconditions for the existence of a nation are not set in stone. Conversely, they are a living being that needs protection, support, and an ability to adapt to the global changes. Once we are ready to duly attend to this living being, our nation will go through a spiritual revival, we will finally enjoy wellbeing, and pride ourselves on having acquired a genuine national identity.
