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I will speak very openly today. I come to Šalčininkai not in my capacity as Foreign Minister, but rather in a private capacity as a citizen of Lithuania, for whom this land and people, unfortunately, are still all too unfamiliar, though dear and heart-warming.

On the occasion of this meeting, the European Information Centre is to be opened and discussions will be held on the benefits of EU membership to our citizens. In 2013, Lithuania will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union. We wish for our country to be properly prepared for this test of the state’s capacity, so we are organizing such thematic discussions with local communities across the country.

Let me underline, however, that today’s meeting has a broader and more practical goal.

It is sometimes said that the European Union ends in Lithuania, namely, at the eastern border in Šalčininkai. I would put it differently. This is exactly where Europe begins. Modern Europe has some of its roots here. Pope John Paul II once said in Rome that he could see the origins of the European Union already in the Union of Lublin. What does that mean? Well, traces of free, multiethnic and dynamic Europe take us back to the historical Commonwealth of Two Nations, Lithuanian and Polish.

Last year, we marked the 220th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. But no commemorative events will compare to witnessing history live. And the best witnesses are the inhabitants of Šalčininkai and the entire Vilnius region with their own cultural diversity, language and traditions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The charm of this region of Lithuania and its beauty lies in the preservation of memory of a multiethnic and tolerant Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In these surroundings, one can still hear those echoes of the partitions of the Commonwealth of Two Nations and of the 19th century uprisings.

No person can tell you better than the local people what it means today to be a Polish, Lithuanian and/or Belarusian-speaking descendant of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. I think people should take be proud of this role, which is also binding. As the example of our common Nobel Prize laureate Czesław Miłosz shows, ethnic groups can and must unite our nations.

Of course, reality is sometimes more complicated than that. It is unfortunate that even while living together in one country after twenty years of independence we are still distancing ourselves from each other. Our mutual feeling of togetherness has to grow and I believe it will happen!

I came here to speak not about you, but with you – not to speak aside, but directly and in plain language. We all know how the partitions of the Commonwealth of Two Nations transpired and how they ended. If we do not want something similar to happen once again, we must break down stereotypes about Poles and Lithuanians that are embedded in our minds.

Let me remind you of the words of former Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, who had been trying to make peace between members of the Solidarity movement and the Communists, that when aiming at a breakthrough: “disagreements of the past must be struck through with a thick line ― gruba kreska“. I would like to add that this thick line must become a solid and good foundation for our common future. To this end, we have to accelerate our joint activities, particularly in our countries’ spheres of interest where our opinions and viewpoints coincide.

I think that the main challenge is the enhancement of the standard of living and the offering of new possibilities for local people regardless of their nationality. Unfortunately, according to a variety of economic and social indicators, the Vilnius region and Šalčininkai are lagging behind other municipalities despite being conveniently situated near Vilnius. Together we must focus and overcome all political, bureaucratic and, perhaps, emotional obstacles in order to solve this chronic problem, which has gone too far.

I can see that some positive action is being taken. We are aware of and appreciate today’s efforts by the leadership of the municipality to improve people’s lives. I would also like to highlight the plan of the Government for the social and economic development of the Vilnius region, as well as a range of measures we are taking to boost entrepreneurship, attract investment, create jobs, develop tourism, improve transport connections with Belarus and raise the quality of social services.

I am optimistic about the increasing activity of local farmers in absorbing EU support. The contribution of the “local action groups” in rural communities is also important for the implementation of a 10 million Litas programme aimed at improving local infrastructure and promoting business projects.

I would like to single out the support that the Government decided to allocate for the renovation of the Jašiūnai manor ensemble last year. Today, on my way here, I had a possibility to stop by and see this object of our cultural heritage with my own eyes. Hopefully in the coming years the manor ensemble will be more beautiful and will become a major tourist attraction. Local people will benefit economically from tourism and fans of history will be proud.

Let us not forget the fact that geographically and demographically, Šalčininkai is at the border with the Republic of Belarus, which is historically linked to the land of Belarus (also called Gudija by Lithuanians). We must make sure that the state border links border residents rather than separating them. We are ready and we would like to encourage Belarusians, and we hope that the intergovernmental agreement on local cross-border travel will come into force as soon as possible. This will improve local traffic. In the first instance, the arrangements aim to facilitate trips to cemeteries, visiting of relatives and attending houses of prayer.

Initiatives in Šalčininkai may find yet another niche, which is, I believe, the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Last year, on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the first mention in written sources of the name of Šalčininkai, we supported one small project of the Dieveniškės School of Technology and Business aimed at the development of the Lithuanian-Belarusian intercultural dialogue. It is getting a modest start. In the future, Šalčininkai must become one of Lithuania’s main stepping-stones towards the sharing of good practice and supporting of democracy, self-government and economic reforms in Belarus.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The success of initiatives in Šalčininkai depends in most cases on the ability to benefit effectively from the advantages of Lithuania’s EU membership. Therefore, I am particularly glad that the European Information Centre is being set up here and that it will open new opportunities for cooperation. I appreciate the well-meaning help of the municipality for the establishment of the centre and the efforts now underway to make the necessary changes. The entire Vilnius region needs this desperately.

For our people, the European Union has always represented freedom, greater opportunities and unity based on Christian values. Let us make these values meaningful in Šalčininkai, the Vilnius region and across Lithuania. Some time ago, Pope John Paul II provided us with a great example. Allow me to draw your attention to a recent publication, which I brought with me today. It is a brochure about the Pope’s visit to Lithuania in 1993 and the words that he spoke to Lithuanians and Poles. Let us therefore rely upon these words.

If further political development will be based upon Christian values and if practical actions will be undertaken to solve problems instead of following emotions, I do not doubt that our cooperation will be accelerating. And we will head in the direction that is best for all Lithuanian citizens.