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The impact of freedom ideas and modern civic democracy framework enshrined in the Constitution of  the Republic of Two Nations of 3rd May, 1791 on the Lithuanian and Polish nations has become an element uniting them, and having not yet lost its relevance helps to address emerging issues, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis says.

On 24 November he took part in an international scientific conference “Between Tradition and Innovation: Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 18th century” which was held  in Lithuanian Institute of History  in Vilnius on occasion of 220th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Two Nations of 3rd May.

“We can confidently state that its ideas had for centuries activated our people’s freedom gene. The later liberation uprisings were ignited with sparks of the Constitution of 3rd May and its integral part - vow of both nations. I dare to believe that echoes of the same principles of freedom contributed both to the establishment of Lithuania's statehood in 1918, and later to the Lithuanian partisan resistance,” the Minister said.

He added that the same historical spirit accompanied Poland and Lithuania even in times of Sąjūdis, in times of liberation from the Soviet Union  and led to revival of 19th century uprising solidarity battle-cry of the Republic of Two Nations "For yours and our freedom."

“The history of  the Two Nations is near us to the present day.  Let us not be afraid to turn back. Let us note the positive and uniting elements in it. I have no doubt that it will help to resolve those issues on which views of our historians and politicians sometimes differ,” the Minister said.

He called to dispel together the myth that the history of the Republic of Two Nations has nothing in common with today's Lithuania and Lithuanian identity. According to A. Ažubalis, the ground for the sprouts of reform had been prepared for many years by  legal tradition of the statutes  of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which bears evidence of its progress in the then European legal structure.

“Finally, I will add that the Constitution of 3rd May provided new historical opportunities for Lithuanian-speaking culture. As you know, its Lithuanian translation was the first political and legal document in Lithuanian,” the Minister said.