Poland’s annotation about Polish schools in Lithuania

Today the editorial board of L24 uncovered the annotation that has been addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Warsaw on the 7th of September, about Polish schools in Lithuania.

The department expresses their concern depending the situation of Polish schools in Lithuania.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RP articulates deep concern about the situation of Lelewela School and Syrokomli school in Vilnius, which accreditation is slowed down under unclear considerations. Special incomprehension rises the decision of transfer, against the school society’s will, the oldest Polish school in Vilnius to a different, unfavourable location and also the fact that the decision of the City of Vilnius that it is a condition to get the accreditation from the autonomy.”- we can read in that document.

Polish diplomats stated that the actions of Lithuania’s authorities in the field of education of national minorities are against the international law.

“Primarily, it is blatant that the conditions of education of national minority are worsening in the name of majority’s comfort. Current actions of Lithuanian authorities are breaking basic rules of protecting the laws of national minorities about cooperation with other interested minorities in the process of taking decisions about those minorities. The act of reducing minorities’ laws without their permission or without even asking about their opinion, violates the rules of the minority expressed for instance in Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities which Lithuania ratified.”- The Ministry of Social Affairs of RP pointed out.

Poland is waiting and hoping for the quick solving of educational problems that are faced by The Polish people in Lithuania.

“The Ministry of Social Affairs of RP has a honour to remind that this case has been brought up by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda during his meeting with the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė in Dubrovnik, and also by the Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło in a discussion with the Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevičius in Ulan Bator, and now Poland is awaiting for the constructive cooperation in order to solve the problem, and for the answer from Lithuania in the issue of possibly quick accreditation of schools, where children of Polish ethnicity attend, including Lelewela School on its previous address that is Antakalino Street 33 in Vilnius.”- wrote the Polish department of foreign affairs.