Speech by Szymon Hołownia, Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, at the solemn commemoration of the Day of Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania

Mr President,

President Valdas Adamkus, 

President Dalia Grybauskaitė, 

Mr Prime Minister, 

Speaker of the Seimas,

Colleagues, Speakers of Parliaments,

Signatories to the Act of Independence, those who signed this wonderful Act of 11 March 1990, 

Members of the Seimas,

Today, we are marking the 35th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania. This takes place at a time full of challenges that all of us in Europe are facing. And it has been the case for more than ten years now. The world is moving in a strange direction. Its foundations are wobbling. This makes me remember the words by my beloved grandmother, who was born in Vilnius. She used to say that every time you lose something, you need to go back to the place where you last saw it. So, it would be a good idea for us to go back to where we last saw the things that shaped our freedom, independence, and our strength. And that was the year 1990. That was when we, nation after nation, were breaking free from the yoke of the Soviet Union. We all recall that, and, as I was a teenager back then, I recall what the generation of my parents did then.

The June elections in Poland and the 11th of March, 1990, in Vilnius, were all the beginnings of the whole process. We had been working towards international recognition for a year and a half. The events of the 13th of January, 1991, was the price we had to pay for that, and now, at a time when the world is unstable, we are forced to remember that.

What we need is leadership. And what is leadership? A great politician ­–– one of the best of our times –– our former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek once said that leadership is having the courage to say what everyone is thinking. It is when everyone is thinking the same thing, but only one person has the courage to stand up and say it out loud and bear the responsibility for those words. And that is all the more reason to bow down to those who, in such unfavourable circumstances, with a 35 000-strong contingent of the Soviet army here, in Lithuania, still had the courage to say out loud that ‘we are an independent country’. Our deepest respect goes out to them. I appreciate their courage in fighting against a stronger adversary, for their values were stronger than the potential price for their actions and that was where their courage stemmed from. And that is where today we must search for courage and recall our values.

Władysław Bartoszewski, another prominent politician, a professor, philosopher and former Auschwitz concentration camp prisoner, once said that it is worth being decent, although sometimes it does not pay off, and it pays off to be indecent, but it is not worth it. When today we wonder where to stand and what position to take, the position of courage and truth seems to be a sufficient guidepost. We must have the courage to stand up for our values. When you do not know how to behave, then behave decently. If someone is being beaten, stand on the side of the victim and not the oppressor. If someone tries to call a hero a dictator, then keep repeating that a hero is a hero and a dictator is a dictator. Today, we need the truth, facts, and bold decisions. Such times require bold decisions. We need to make a decision to increase our defence spending to ensure our collective defence. We have to stop hesitating and get rid of prejudices that concern the relations between our countries. We must take care of the more vulnerable society groups and draw inspiration from the heroes who served us 35 years ago.

Today we need bold leadership in Europe. We have to turn to the Germans and the French, and not only to the Americans. America is, indeed, a very important ally, but many keys to European security problems lie in Europe.  

We need to strengthen our European relations and our ties with Germany, France or Belgium, because it is namely those countries that can help release Russia’s frozen assets that Ukraine is calling for and to which Ukraine has the right, as it has been brutally attacked. 

France and Germany have already offered a way for negotiations. There has been encouragement to engage in talks. Knowing the proposals made back in 1938 and 1939, we are aware of the direction today’s proposals may take us to. A new security architecture is on the table and, maybe, the proposals concerning it are worth listening to. Today we need to take unconventional decisions. Today is the time for non-standard loyalty to our non-standard values. We can overcome our differences, but now is the time to focus on our security, our families, our countries, and our brotherhood. We are not only neighbours. We are the closest siblings to each other, sharing a centuries-long bond. For generations, our people had been living together harmoniously and no borders could break that bond. Today that sense of communion is necessary as never before. Otherwise, our future generations will not forgive us for this. And if we have to refer to a game of cards in politics, then I have to say that all the cards are in our hands.

Finally, I would like to share a few concluding remarks.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I came here today at the invitation of Saulius Skvernelis with a simple message. Poland is a trustworthy ally that you can always rely on. Poland is an ally that offers trust and respect. We will always expect this from our partners, but we will also give it to them very firmly and clearly. In a world where fear tries to take control, hope is more important. Fearmongers will try to manipulate us, but we must offer hope. We have to be hopemongers, as that is what people need more than fear.

I would like to conclude with the words by artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, whom we discussed yesterday with the Speaker. Čiurlionis was connected with both Lithuania and Poland, and he used to talk of Poland and Lithuania and our world. He used to say that in this world, alongside so many minuscule things, there were so many great and wonderful things as well. And I wish you to experience those great things every day. 

God bless the Independent Lithuania! 

Congratulations to everyone on this occasion! 

Thank you.