News

On 10 February in Šiauliai, starting the events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Movement of the Struggle for Freedom of Lithuania and NATO, and the 5 anniversary of Lithuania’s membership in the European Union and NATO, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas gave a lecture at Šiauliai University. “Let us courageously and with self-confidence create our future on the firm foundation of values: freedom, democracy, rule of law and historical justice,” said Minister V.Ušackas to the assembled students.

The Minister assessed the significance of fifty years of Lithuania’s resistance, struggle for freedom, and the experience of five years of membership in the European Union and NATO, reminding the students of the slogan that was chosen by the Movement of the Struggle for Freedom of Lithuania: “Give to your Homeland what you must give.”

In his speech, Minister V.Ušackas shared his insights with the students on the path that Lithuania had covered during the 5 years as a member of the EU and NATO. The Minister encouraged taking a break and evaluating the achievements. According to him, during the recent five years Lithuania has achieved really a lot.

“Lithuania has become a member of the most secure and the strongest organisations. Due to our serious attitude towards international obligations, we are valued as consistent, solid and principled partners,” said V.Ušackas.

V.Ušackas acquainted the students with the most important tasks that were still waiting for Lithuania - introduction of Euro and solution of the energy security problem – and indicated that Lithuania could not stop and had to move on. According to him, a new impetus is necessary for development of the Lithuanian economy and it is mandatory to draw attention to science and innovations.

“While seeking these goals, we have to do more and talk less,” said V.Ušackas.

The Minister invited the students to avoid shrinking into themselves and their problems, but to offer a helping hand to those neighbouring countries, which wanted to draw closer to Europe – Georgia, Ukraine, and others - like Lithuanian was once helped by the  Scandinavian countries.

In the speech, the Minister noted that we could influence the future of the EU and NATO. According to him, we have to take an active part in the Euro-Atlantic transformation processes, making our interests the interests of the EU and NATO. According to the Minister, Lithuania still has to courageously break fresh ground for the EU and seek for a bigger role in it.

The Minister emphasized that the goal of Lithuania was not only to try to influence the EU positions, but to take an active part already in the very beginning of their formation. The Minister invited to search not for alternatives to the EU and NATO, but to strengthen the organisations, which had been guaranteeing peace for 60 years already.

“Our five years of the EU and NATO membership can be compared to graduating from a university. The graduate here is a nation and state, celebrating its millennium this year. Usually after graduating from a university we start to create enthusiastically and independently. Let me wish this for everyone of us,” V.Ušackas wished ending his speech.

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Movement of the Struggle for Freedom of Lithuania, the Minister and foreign Ambassadors residing in Lithuania laid flowers at the monument to Torments and Hope in the Ginkūnai Cemetery, in Šiauliai.