19 October 2010
Speaker of the Seimas, Mrs Irena Degutienë, presided over the sitting in commemoration of the launch of the Helsinki process and its impact on Eastern Europe, which was also an introduction of Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation of Europe in 2011.
Speaker of the Seimas noted in her introductory remarks that the sitting was turning to history and visiting the events of 35 years ago, which had changed the world, Europe, and Lithuania.
“That is why a cold and rational glimpse at the 1975 Helsinki Conference and its final documents, as well as the work of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is not the right approach. These developments were a part of Lithuania‘s freedom case, a part of our road to revival, restoration of our independence and making it real,” Speaker Degutienë said.
The Speaker is of the opinion that when we look at the Helsinki Final Act from a time distance, we see that there is a lot in common between what was declared by Europe and the global community thirty-five years ago and the aspirations that Lithuania had at the end of the 20th century.
“Equality of nations and their right to self-determination, respect for human rights and freedoms are the principles inherent in Lithuania‘s national liberation and restoration of statehood. Those were the postulates that guided western leaders and diplomats in their stance on non-recognition of Lithuania‘s occupation. The most courageous people of Lithuania breathed life into the documents under consideration by setting up the Helsinki Group and aspiring to telling the world about the situation of human rights and freedoms in the Soviet Union,” Madame Speaker said.
Speaker Degutienë noted that diverging responses followed.
“The occupational power punished by imprisonment, exile, forced treatment in mental hospitals while the free world nominated the Lithuanian, Russian and Ukrainian Helsinki Groups for the Nobel Peace Prize. There is no doubt that Lithuania’s road to its current status, a free state without a foreign army, would have been much longer and much more difficult had it not been supported by the respective international organisations”.
Speaker of the Seimas underlined the important role played by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the withdrawal of the Soviet army from the Baltic States and in fostering their independence internationally.
Speaker Degutienë made the conclusion, “Forthcoming Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship is both a challenge to Lithuania’s foreign policy and its symbolic gratitude to the Organisation”.
Speaker of the Seimas thanked all those who spoke, wrote and worked at the time when the Helsinki Group was being set up and when Lithuania dreamt of a more just and freer future for itself.
“The dreams have become a reality. The empire that demonstrated its military strength exists no more; those who were put to trial, tortured and blackmailed are now respected, the nation and the world pay tribute to them. We are sincerely grateful to the organisations the activities of which we are discussing today and we know for certain that European and world history will record their significant role. I wish to thank all those who continue creating the history by their wise words and meaningful deeds,” Speaker Degutienë concluded.
Juozas Ruzgys, Advisor to the Speaker of the Seimas
