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On 18 September at the plenary session of the Seimas Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas answered the questions of Members of the Seimas regarding the compensation for damage resulting from the occupation by the USSR.

“Lithuania’s claims for damages resulting from Soviet occupation are legal and rightful. I would like to remark, that the issue of compensation for damage caused by Soviet occupation tops the agenda of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On this issue, Lithuanian diplomatic service is bound not only by the will of the nation expressed in the referendum, but also the Law adopted by the Seimas of Lithuania on Compensation for Damage Resulting from the Occupation by the USSR, as well as the values of Lithuania and its diplomats,” said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

Implementing the law, which was adopted by the Seimas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated negotiations with Russia, which inherited the rights and obligations of the USSR, so that it could compensate for damage resulting from the occupation by the USSR.

The issue of compensation for damage resulting from the occupation by the USSR to Lithuania was raised on 20 January, 2001 in Nida and on 22 March, 2001 in Moscow during the meetings of Lithuanian-Russian intergovernmental commission. It was proposed to include the issue on agenda of the commission meetings. Once again Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the issue during the first meeting with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov in November 2006.

Russia, according to the Minister, rejected and continues to decline offers to negotiate this issue and to include it on agenda of bilateral relations. Currently, negotiations are not held and it is not possible to initiate negotiations forcibly.

“Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted to change the strategy of negotiations by raising concrete issues regarding the debts of Russia to Lithuania, such as the return of the deposits in the Vneshekonombank by Lithuanian citizens; the return of the Lithuanian pre-war embassies in Rome and Paris, etc. These issues were raised in the working groups  of the above-mentioned Lithuanian-Russian intergovernmental commission, as well as in other bilateral meetings of  the officials of Lithuanian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs. However, these issues remain unresolved to this day,” said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

 Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas claims that publicizing the process of negotiations harms the interests of Lithuania and contravenes the practice of international diplomacy. The domestic political pressure that is piled on Lithuanian diplomats will also not help to achieve the desired goal.

“The issue of the compensation for damage interests diplomats, as well as Members of the Seimas. However, today we practically have no possibilities to force Russia do what it does not want to do,” indicated the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy. P.Vaitiekūnas stressed that Lithuanian diplomats pursued the objective to enter into negotiations with Russia and made every endeavour to reach the result, which was expected by the whole society in Lithuania.

“We often repeat that negotiation is like a dance for two, but should also remember to invite the partner politely,” said P.Vaitiekūnas. According to the Minister, negotiation regarding the compensation for damage was more a moral issue and not entirely a financial problem.  

According to P.Vaitiekūnas, such measures like a more active involvement of other governmental institutions and concentration seeking to compensate damage applying all the legal framework, would also encourage Russia to accept our offers to solve the issue regarding the compensation for damage and move on to the constructive negotiation. This would draw more attention of the international community to the problem.

“We can reach our goal without undermining the dignity of Russia, avoiding the language of ultimatums”, emphasized the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy: “The reasons for success are within Russia itself, not somewhere else”.

Minister thinks that benevolent determination of both countries to solve this difficult issue would contribute to the enhancement of mutual understanding of Lithuanian and Russian nations, as well as to the development of bilateral relations.