10 March 2010
Fellow
Colleagues,
Let me welcome
you all at the Spring Session.
The fourth
Spring Session is exceptional for it starts on the eve of the 20th anniversary
of the restoration of Lithuania’s
independence.
20 years ago, on
11 March 1990, this building hosted very long and responsible considerations
and debates on when and how to declare the Act of Independence, it witnessed
thorough preparatory works for the restoration of the state and arrangements
for drafting important legislation that would set up the legal framework for
the life of the restored state.
Fellow
Parliamentarians, I believe that the determination, wisdom, and responsibility
of that period are the best examples to be followed during this and other
forthcoming Sessions of the Seimas. I very much hope that the anniversary
commemoration of this historic day will bring back not only the special aura of
that time, but also a greater personal responsibility and will give start to
closer bonds between the electorate and the elected. I very much hope that the
20th anniversary of the restored state will not only remind everyone that it is
here, in the Seimas, that the foundations of the state have been laid and the
key principles of a free Lithuania have been consolidated, but will also give
us strength to change the work of the current Seimas in such a way as to
restore our citizens’ trust in the Parliament that existed back in those
historic days.
Being fully
aware of the fact that in times of economic downturn the behaviour of the
elected members becomes the main focus of attention of our society, I expect
that during the Spring Session we will manage to regulate our work, actions,
and expenses related to parliamentary activity in a more appropriate and
responsible manner.
On the other
hand, I would like to remind all the critics of the Seimas that the Seimas is
practically the most open state institution in terms of accessibility, and
transparency of finance and information. This Seimas is open as never before
since none of Members of the earlier Seimas had to account to their electorate
for the expenses related to their parliamentary activities. Previously, we did
not have the experience of accountability. At the very beginning we were not
prepared to properly regulate the use of funds allocated for parliamentary
activities and it took us quite some time to change our old habits immediately.
Nevertheless, I hope that during this Session we will put an end to this
prolonged and rather unpleasant story.
Equally, I would
like to inform you that following a few cases of irresponsible and unacceptable
voting in the Seimas the voting procedure has been changed. From now on,
Members of the Seimas are allowed to vote from their personal seats or from the
rostrum when their working place is there rather than vote from anywhere in the
Plenary Hall.
Fellow
Colleagues! According to the agenda, we will have to accomplish a lot tasks,
including structural reforms, fight against corruption, and reduction of
unemployment, economy stimulation, as well as deal with increasing national and
public security, etc. The Prime Minister and I personally will introduce the
key priorities of the Session later on.
I am happy to
note that we managed to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny in the last Session
of the Seimas. I invite committees and commissions to fulfil this
constitutional duty in due course and time. In this context, I would like to
express my gratitude to the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence,
the Committee on Legal Affairs, and the Committee on Audit for their
performance.
It was the
principled parliamentary scrutiny due to which we will have to approve new Heads
of the State Security Department and the Prosecutor General’s Office on the
recommendation of President of the Republic
of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė.
Let’s hope that they will commence law enforcement reforms that society has
been waiting for very long.
I am pleased
that during the previous Session our society was increasingly involved in the
legislative process and that the number of discussions, hearings, and
conferences on issues topical for society grew. I believe that this kind of
work will be even more intensive during this Session. A discussion about the
reform on drafting and execution of the State Budget is already on the
Session’s agenda. There are plans to consolidate the provisions of the reform
in the Law amending the Law on Budgeting.
The Committee on
State Administration and Local Authorities that has been very active will also
have many tasks to fulfil, including implementation of projects related to
reform of counties, development of a local self-government model, and adoption
of relevant legislation.
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to close my opening address with an extract from a letter by Lithuania
bishops on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Restoration of
Lithuania’s independence:
“Criticism from
all over and dissatisfaction with Lithuania’s reality is also a gift
of freedom we have to use responsibly and understand that it is only us, who
control our present (…). Living in a responsible freedom,
however, means making a brave choice between the good and the evil.
According to the Holy Father Benedict XVI, this choice is our essence because
“despite progress in so many forms, the human person is unchanged: freedom
between good and evil”.
Fellow
Parliamentarians, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s
independence, may I congratulate you on this special historic day and to wish
all of you to make the right choice between good and evil, resistance to
pettiness of the passing reality, and comprehension of wider horizons of the
past and the present. And, certainly, I invite you to actively participate in
all commemorative events that will be attended by many honourable guests from
abroad.
In addition, I
would like to bow and thank Members of the current Seimas, Signatories to the
Act of Independence, who were united and determined in their efforts, and who
knew what and why they were doing on 11 March 1990.
I am grateful
for the opportunity to live in a free independent state. Thank you for the then
unity and understanding. Thank you for being today with us, so that we could
learn from you and to think who we are today and who we will be tomorrow. Thank
you very much, dear Signatories.
Once again,
fellow Colleagues, my best wishes of successful work and happy festivities!
