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You’ve come a long way Lithuania, and it’s never been more obvious at the United Nations than it is right now in the year 2012. Lithuanian Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, candidate for President of this year’s 67th session of the UN General Assembly shares his thoughts on the lessons learned by Lithuania since it joined the United Nations twenty years ago on September 17, 1991, along with Estonia and Latvia.

Not only is Lithuania a candidate for the UN Security Council in the year 2014-2015, but next year it will assume the Presidency of the European Union during the last six months of 2013. The article that follows provides insight as to what it takes to be a candidate for President of this year’s UN General Assembly, and why Lithuania’s transformation in just two decades IS nothing less than remarkable.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė certainly set the record straight last year when she stated during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2011 that she was “looking forward to Lithuania’s Presidency of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.” She assured the members of the international community, too, that “Lithuania would do its utmost to contribute effectively and wisely to the work and principles of the United Nations in any of its bodies.”

Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations in New York, and former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs,was nominated by the Government of Lithuania for the important post of President of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Eastern European Group.

If elected to this post in June 2012, Ambassador Čekuolis stated that he will “ensure a balanced, open, cooperative and accessible Presidency of this main body of the United Nations.”

According to the United Nations, “the General Assembly is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, and it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.”

 Known for his ability to compromise and seek common ground, Ambassador Čekuolis held the post of Vice-President and President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2006, 2007. In addition, he has also been the Chairman of the Third Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects (2008), and assumed the role of Co-Chairman of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly (2010-2011).

Prior to joining the Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations in New York during 2006, this highly experienced diplomat served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2004-2006, and was the Ambassador of Lithuania in Portugal from 1999 to 2004. During the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (1998-1999), he was the Head of the Committee of Senior Officials of the CBSS. In 1994-1998, Ambassador Čekuolis served as Ambassador of Lithuania in Belgium, accredited to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and concurrently Lithuanian representative to the Western European Union and to the North Atlantic Cooperation Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

He also served as Ambassador of Lithuania in Denmark, accredited to Norway and Iceland (1992-1994). In the year 1991, Ambassador Čekuolis was Charge d’Afffaires of Lithuania in Denmark, accredited to Norway and Iceland. He assumed the position as Head of the Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 1990-1991.

 Ambassador Čekuolis speaks six languages, namely, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and his native Lithuanian. He graduated from the Institute of International Relations in Moscow, and during his career has been awarded many honors, including the Grand-Coix de la Couronne 1999 (Belgium), Ordem do Merito Gra-Cruz 2004 (Portugal) and the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas 2005 (Lithuania).

 If elected, Ambassador Čekuolis, one of Lithuania’s longest standing ambassadors, will be confirmed by the General Assembly in June 2012.

Lithuania informed the Members of the Eastern European States back in 2004 of its decision to apply for the post as President of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and notified about the decision to nominate the candidature of Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis on June 27, 2011.

The 193-Member General Assembly elects its President on an annual basis, and the post rotates between the five UN regional groups. This year, the candidate will be chosen from the Eastern EuropeanGroup which has undergone remarkable changes over the last twenty years, including the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Members of the Eastern European Group include 23 countries, namely, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova,Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Belarus, Slovenia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and the Russian Federation.

This year on February 9 at the Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokes-person for the Secretary-General, BALTIC REVIEW asked the following question: “Concerning the presidency of the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly, which will come from the Eastern European Group, Lithuania informed the Member States of the Eastern European Group back in 2004 about the candidate Lithuanian Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, a former President of the Economic and Social Council, as President of this year’s General Assembly, which was confirmed to all Member States in 2012. Can you tell us how this General Assembly election works? “

Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General replied: ” Well, I would defer to my colleague Nihal Saad, who will be able to tell you, I am sure in great detail, how that works, as she is the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, I am sure she would help you on that. But it is clear there is an established mechanism for that, the bottom being that it is for Member States to decide. ”

Nihal Saad, Spokesperson, Office of the President of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, suggested contacting Ion Botnaru, Director, UN General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, for an explanation of the procedure involved This is what Mr. Botnaru had to say: “As a rule, the regional group endorses one candidate and the chair of the group informs the Secretariat about its decision. The President of the General Assembly is elected by acclamation. But if consensus cannot be reached within the group, all candidates submit their candiature to the Secretariat, and an election by the General Assembly will follow. The President of the General Assembly is selected by a simple majority of Member States present and voting. The last time it happened was in1991. This year’s deadline for President of the General Assembly election is June 18.”

LESSONS LITHUANIA HAS LEARNED SINCE JOINING THE UN

What lessons has Lithuania learned since joining the United Nations on September 17, 1991? On February 16, during a celebration commemorating the National Day of the Republic of Lithuania, Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis explained the principal lessons that his country has learned since joining the United Nations. Here’s what he had to say: “First, we embraced the principles and values of the United Nations as our own. In just two decades, Lithuania rebuilt a democratic and forward-looking society based on the rule of law and human rights that is ready to actively participate in the international arena.”

He added, “there is no doubt that our progress would have been more arduous without the help of the international community, and in particular, the United Nations. At the same time, there are far too many countries that remain caught up in the vicious circle of poverty and failed hopes. As the President of the UN Economic and Social Council in 2007, Lithuania aimed to reinvigorate this body and strengthen its role in ensuring that development and equality are for everyone to share.”

Secondly, Lithuanian Ambassador Čekuolis went on to say, “we learned to value dialogue and look beyond our national interest. Not a single weapon is manufactured in Lithuania, but that does not preclude us from dedicating special attention to international disarmament and humanitarian law. As a Chair of the meeting of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms in 2008, I was struck by how illicit trade in arms creates conditions for human rights abuses, hinders development and contributes to regional instability and insecurity.”

“Finally”, the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations stated, “we learned that multilaterialism matters. There are very few things that a country can accomplish alone and the United Nations exemplifies an unprecedented stage for dialogue and global solutions. Last year, as Co-Chair of the ad hoc working group to revitalize the UN General Assembly, Lithuania aimed to lead the efforts to make this body more efficient, authoritative and visible.”

“With these lessons in mind, ” he concluded by saying, “it will be an honor and privilege to continue serving the United Nations in the future, aiming at an increased input of Lithuania to multilateralism, leading – I hope and believe –successful campaigns for the Presidency of the General Assembly in 2012, as well as for a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council for the period of 2014/2015.”

The above remarks were made by Ambassador Čekuolis in his capacity as Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations, in the presence of several members of the international community, including UN Ambassadors, Members of the European Union, United Nations Correspondents (Baltic Review) and Marija Rokuiziene, broadcast journalist currently working at United Nations Television. Members of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) Vincas Babilius, Vice President of the Environment Committee and Andrius Burba, were also in attendance. In addition, representatives of non-governmental organizations such as the International Federation of Free Journalists, which has been associated with the UN since 1969, and members of the United Nations Association of Lithuania (UNA-Lithuania),under the direction of Jurate Landsbergyte, were represented, at this event, as well. The Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York, Valdemaras Sarapinas, welcomed members of the Lithuanian-American Community in New York and special guests to join in the celebration.

COMMEMORATING MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIAN STATEHOOD

The National Day of the Republic of Lithuania was commemorated this year in New York City on February 16 with an outstanding piano performance by Ms.Golda Vainberg- Tatz and a young emerging talent from Lithuania, Agne Radzeviciute at Saint Peter’s Church with remarks by the Lithuanian Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, to mark the occasion. Ambassador Čekuolis explained to the audience that the February 16 date celebrated the re-establishment of the Lithuanian State back in 1918, in the aftermath of World War I, 94 years ago. As he put it, “this day was with us, Lithuanians, all through the turbulent events of the XX century; it helped us stay united and keep our faith in God, freedom ,and justice. ”

 Ambassador Čekuolis also mentioned another upcoming milestone in the history of Lithuanian statehood, March 11, 1990, the day when Lithuania declared the restoration of independence from the then Soviet Union, when “we embarked on a road re-uniting Lithuania to Europe, 22 years ago.” So get ready to celebrate! The third important holiday in Lithuania’s history this year will be on July 6th, the Statehood Day to mark the crowning of the Lithuanian King Mindaugas in 1253, 759 years ago,” according to the Ambassador. To the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations, “history speaks for itself” and as Albert Einstein once said, “everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” On this special day, “we reiterate our deepest respect and gratitude to our parents, grand-parents, and countless generations of our ancestors, who made enormous sacrifices and lost so many lives in the fight for freedom. And it is with this sense of continuity of our Statehood for centuries we carry, deep in our hearts, the sense of responsibility.”

MS. GOLDA VAINBERG-TATZ WAS DESCRIBED AS A ‘BRILLIANT PIANO VIRTUOSO’ AT THE CONCERT BY THE AMBASSADOR

In introducing Ms. Golda Vainberg-Tatz, he described her as “a great musician, brilliant piano virtuoso, and dedicated piano professor who received her musical education in her native Lithuania at the Ciurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius, Israel’s Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv University, and the Julliard School in New York.” Her Repertoire included CPE Bach – Rondo Ecpressivo, Chopin-Barcarolle op.60, Debussy- From Images Book 2 “Cloches a travers les feuilles”, “Poissons d’or”, and Franck – Prelude, Choral and Fugue.

Ambassador Čekuolis added that “as a recitalist, Ms. Golda Vainberg-Tatz performed throughout Europe, Israel and the United States, and as a soloist, she performed extensively in Lithuania, with the National Symphony, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, and Vilnius String Quartet. In the USA, she performed with Ann Arbor Symphony in Michigan, Cincinnati Symhony.” He added that Ms.Golda Vainberg-Tatz is “an acclaimed recording artist, and among her many CD’s, the piano collection by Robert Schumann received the highest critical acclaim in Fanfare and American Record Guide. Her prizes and awards include the first prize in the Lithuanian State Competition for Young Pianists, top prizes at the Young Keyboard Artists at the University of Michigan, The World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, the Prix-du-Disque from French Piano Institute in Paris, as well as the Palm Beach Invitational International Competition in Florida, and many others.”

YOUNG PIANIST AGNE RADZEVICIUTE WAS RECOGNIZED AS ‘AN EMERGING LITHUANIAN TALENT’

In addition, Ms.Golda Vainberg-Tatz introduced “the young, emerging talent of Lithuanian Agne Radzeviciute on piano.” This gifted pianist performed M. K. Ciurlionis Preliudas VL197 F Chopin Fantaisie op. 49 F-minor at Saint Peter’s Church on the evening of February 16. Born in Vilnius during 1992, Agne started playing piano at age 5 and graduated from high school with distinction in 2011. She was recognized with distinction for the exceptional results she achieved in her studies, and the Minister of Education expressed gratitude for her active cultural involvement. Agne has performed at concerts held in Lithuania, France, Switzerland, Russia, and Lithuania’s National Philharmonic Hall. She is now studying for her bachelor’s degree as a piano freshman at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under Prof. Nina Svetlanova.

By Ann Charles