Press release, 13 March 2019

The Day of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was solemnly celebrated at the Seimas on 11 March 2019. In his address at the solemn sitting on this occasion, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, expressed his satisfaction that the celebration represented a testimony to meaningful change. ‘Lithuania means people here and elsewhere. Lithuania stands for a message delivered around the world. Lithuania crossed the breaking point in 1990 and became a country of permanent progress,’ he said.      

Mr Pranckietis observed that the second generation of children of independence start going to schools. ‘These are the children of those born independent, who consider gaining of the independence as a rather mystic experience of the past. Therefore, it is highly important to pass down the national historical heritage of freedom fights from generation to generation as a living memory and living stories imprinted on future generations as if a gene of freedom, independence, and resilience,’ he said.  

The Speaker of the Seimas invited everyone to build a common future based on trust. He also forwarded the book titled Pledge to Lithuania to representatives of Martynas Mažvydas National Library for storage. The book had been passed around the country to be signed by anyone making their moral commitment to our Homeland. ‘The book of the pledges was passed around Lithuania during the centenary year where I invited people to write down their wishes and future commitments to Lithuania. The book now contains 752 personal and collective pledges, which represent an opportunity and moral duty for everyone undersigned,’ Mr Pranckietis said.  

Another speaker at the sitting, Egidijus Bičkauskas, Signatory to the Act of Independence, was convinced that Lithuania’s independence had been and would continue to be the greatest value, irrespective of the approach by global powers. He invited Lithuanian politicians to engage in a more in-depth discussion on Lithuania’s foreign and security policy. ‘As I am aware of the possibility of having conflict situations between these powers, I fully understand that Lithuania has not been, will not and cannot be a key geopolitical player. However, it is my understanding of the potential dangers the conflicts between major powers can cause to us in particular that makes me unwilling to see this country being a spark of or a catalyst for such conflicting relations. I wouldn’t want it to be like this – either on its own or in a company of other countries, be it at its own initiative, unintentionally, willing to please others, or at the will of others – where it would create a situation when we could become an object of negotiations or the centre of a conflict, all because of our own action,’ Mr Bičkauskas said. In his opinion, small countries should make wise, rational, unsubmissive and dignified politics.

At the solemn sitting, the Speaker of the Seimas and Prof. Zenonas Butkus, Chair of the Commission for Awarding the National Independence Grant, presented the certificate and a memorial gift to Dr Justina Kozakaitė, winner of the National Independence Grant 2019.

Pof. Zenonas Butkus informed that the Commission had carefully studied the submitted projects and, out of six nominees, had chosen Dr Justina Kozakaitė as the winner. Dr Justina Kozakaitė had submitted a research project titled The Price of the Struggles for Freedom: Analysis of Partisans’ Remains. When introducing the winner of the National Independence Grant, Prof. Butkus underlined that Dr Kozakaitė’s research contributed to boosting science in Lithuania, consolidating Lithuanian statehood, and promoting trust in Lithuania and its society. It also served as a means to fight disinformation spread by hostile powers. ‘Valid and unbiased research is the most effective antidote to disinformation. One might say that research by the winner of the Grant contributes to the development of science and builds an impenetrable line of defence against hybrid warfare,’ said Prof. Butkus.

‘The main purpose of mine and of my colleagues is to become indisputable chroniclers able to apply modern scientific methods to prove the cruelties of the occupation forces and, more importantly, the past existence of outstanding historical personalities significant for us, and to prevent their legend from being buried under lies in an unmarked grave,’ said the winner of the National Independence Grant.

Finally, at the end of the solemn sitting, Saulius Pečeliūnas, Signatory to the Act of Independence, handed in the statuette Žinia, a traditional award by civil society organisations for merits to Lithuania dedicated to the 11th of March, to Albinas Kentra. Mr Kentra is a participant of resistance movement, former political prisoner, and chronicler of the national revival.

The solemn sitting was co-chaired by Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, and Česlovas Juršėnas, Signatory to the Act of Independence and former Speaker of the Seimas.