Guoda Burokienė, Head of the Seimas Delegation to the IPU: this year marks the centenary of Lithuania’s IPU membership

Press release, 29 June 2023

Guoda Burokienė, Head of the Seimas Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), addressed the Members of the Seimas by congratulating them on the International Day of Parliamentarism, celebrated worldwide on 30 June, the day on which the IPU was founded.

Ms Burokienė pointed out that 2023 was a special year for Lithuania because it marked the centenary of Lithuania’s IPU membership. ‘The struggle for freedom and democratic values plays a key role in the history of Lithuania’s statehood. For the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, joining the IPU a hundred years ago symbolised the victory in this struggle and marked a day when we became members of an immense community that brings together countries from across the world,’ said the Head of the Seimas Delegation to the IPU.

Guoda Burokienė, Head of the Seimas Delegation to the IPU. Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Lithuania’s IPU membership was interrupted by the period of occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union. The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania held the IPU membership from 1923 to 1928. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania declared independence once again and in 1991 the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania re-joined the IPU.

Ms Burokienė pointed out that peace, democracy and human rights were the core values of the IPU. ‘Faced with the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine, we feel obliged to urge other states to never get fatigued and never turn a blind eye to violations of international law. The IPU empowers us to be vocal on problems on an equal footing, regardless of the size of the state,’ Ms Burokienė said.

The Head of the Seimas Delegation to the IPU also noted another item on the IPU’s agenda, namely, Sustainable Development Goals. ‘The path of a modern and responsible state and society is informed by three equally important policies including environment protection, economic development and social welfare, and this must be our path, too,’ Ms Burokienė insisted.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

The IPU was established 134 years ago, on 30 June 1889. What once began as a Paris-based Interparliamentary Conference with representatives of 9 countries attending, transformed itself into a parliamentary forum of 179 members and 14 associated members.

Asta Skirmantienė, Senior Adviser, International Relations Unit, Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, tel. +370 5 239 6010, e-mail:[email protected]