Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, said that the entire Europe had been shocked by the Smolensk tragedy that had claimed the lives of nearly a hundred people, including Prof. Lech Kaczyński, Polish President and Lithuania’s good friend.
“I often wonder why this happened and why such brilliant people fell prey to such a meaningless death. I have no answer. There are no right words to describe what it felt for the Polish people at the time to lay their leader to rest. Warsaw was drowning in tears and flowers. So was Vilnius. Crowds were gathering to offer condolences to our Polish friends, which was testimony to our fraternity,” said Mr Pranckietis.
The Speaker of the Seimas believed that President Lech Kaczyński was Lithuania’s true friend who had warm relations with many Lithuanian politicians and diplomats. “No wonder that a debate on the possibility of naming a street in the Lithuanian capital after Lech Kaczyński ensued in less than a year. This is a beautiful and significant gesture demonstrating our past and present appreciation of the Polish neighbourhood. We will always mourn together with the Polish nation and will always support it. We will always be together,” said Mr Pranckietis calling for a minute of silence in the memory of the air crash victims.
The tragedy took place on 10 April 2010 when the Polish government delegation was flying to Russia to participate in the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre at the memorial close to the Russian city of Smolensk. As the presidential plane crashed, Poland lost its President and his wife, many prominent politicians, military officers, scientists, public figures and relatives of the victims of the Katyn massacre, who travelled to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn tragedy.
