There were greater expectations after the social democratic PM of Lithuania. It was expected that he could break away from the predecessor's policy characterized by complexes and prejudices against polish national minority. It was thought that he could secede the bureaucratic chauvinism and explicit discrimination against Poles in the Lithuanian public life. I'd like to add that the widespread discrimination is bringing shame to Lithuania on the international level and also it makes harder to find a dialogue with the neighbouring Poland. The statement expressed on Sunday leaves no doubt. The illusions were tripped off even from the biggest optimists, who believed that it is possible to ordain normality in Lithuania. Unfortunately, it is not. The Prime Minister gave a signal that he was sharing the same anti-polish thoughts as his predecessors - the extreme right-wing nationalists. Furthermore, he showed that he can't keep his promises, because for who, in not the Prime Minister, signed the program of the current government, which also contains the introduction of bilingual subtitles. What's next?
The statement given by Mr Butkevicius revokes policies that were common in the 30-ties of Twentieth century, when the discrimination against minorities was political virtues and the only right ideology was nationalism. As a consequence, the II World War erupted followed by hatred and genocide. This is a bad example to follow. Playing the chauvinistic note is a mistake.
Currently we are in the XXI century, and Lithuania is a member of the European Union and thus we are obliged to pursue European values such as cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity. European treaties and international law protect national minorities and their identity. Furthermore, Lithuania as a member country of the European community subjects of the supremacy of the European law. It means precedence of the European law over the national law. If the Lithuanian law is not coherent with the European, it has to changed. Every Prime Minister of the 28 European countries should do that.
If the Mr Butkevicius has bad advisers and they do not posses this knowledge, I would be happy to cite a few examples from the international legal instruments that Lithuania has ratified and by
that is required to implement to their legal system:
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Article 21, paragraph 1
Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national
minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Article 10, paragraphs
The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use freely and without interference his or her minority language, in private and in public, orally and in writing.
In areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantial numbers, if those persons so request and where such a request corresponds to a real need, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure, as far as possible, the conditions which would make it possible to use the minority language in relations between those persons and the administrative authorities.
Article 11, paragraphs
The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use his or her surname (patronym) and first names in the minority language and the right to official recognition of them, according to modalities provided for in their legal system.
The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to display in his or her minority language signs, inscriptions and other information of a private nature visible to the public.
In areas traditionally inhabited by substantial numbers of persons belonging to a national minority, the Parties shall endeavour, in the framework of their legal system, including, where appropriate, agreements with other States, and taking into account their specific conditions, to display traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications intended for the public also in the minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications.
Article 16, paragraph 1
The Parties shall refrain from measures which alter the proportions of the population in areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities and are aimed at restricting the rights and freedoms flowing from the principles enshrined in the present framework Convention.
Treaty on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborly Cooperation of the Republic of Lithuania and Republic of Poland.
Article 14
The Contracting Parties declare that the persons, named in Article 13 paragraph 2 (Poland and Lithuania, translators note), also have the right:
- to use freely their national minority language in personal and public life;
- to use their names and surnames according to the sound of the
national minority language.
Article 15
1. The Contracting Parties in their own territory will protect the national, cultural, linguistic, and religious identity of the persons named in Article 13 paragraph 2 and will create conditions to expand it.
2. The Parties:
- will determine the use of the national minority language in its institutions, especially in those administrative-territorial units in which the national minority form a large share of the population,
- will guarantee that all means of public mass information are available to the national minorities,
If the Lithuania wants to be a fully respected European state and also wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours it has to implement European laws regarding to national minorities, the same way as did it Poland. The Polish government implemented previously cited treaties, by that now it has bilingual signs in 852 places in 45 municipalities: 336 in German, 450 in Kashubian, 30 in Lithuanian, 27 in Belarusian and nine names in Lemko. It is a good example for Lithuania, so Mr Prime Minister take that into consideration before it is too late.
Dr. Bogusław Rogalski, political scientist
ECR advisor for international affairs at the European Parliament
