- June 19, 2012
- 257
Adam Michnik participates in the debate: The truth became Polish or Lithuanian only
“We say one thing, we think the other and we do something opposite” – that is professor’s Alvydas Jokubaitis, the philosopher comment about Lithuanian policy towards Poland and Polish policy towards Lithuania. “In Poland there are people who want to make a political profit on this conflict” – added Adam Michnik, chief-editor of “Gazeta Wyborcza” newspaper during discussion titled: “New Polish-Lithuanian partnership: the way to constructive dialogue and agenda?”.
Eastern Europe Studies Centre (Rytų Europos studijų centras) and Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences of Vilnius University (Vilniaus universiteto Tarptautinių santykių ir politikos mokslų institutas) organized another Polish-Lithuanian meeting which aim is to order relations between both countries.
The Lithuanian party was represented by Alvydas Jokubaitis, the professor, politologist and philosopher supported by Emanuelis Zingeris, the deputy of the Lithuanian Parliament and head of Foreign Affairs Committee. The Polish party was represented by Adam Michnik, essayist, journalist, opposition activist and chief-editor of “Gazeta Wyborcza” newspaper at present.
Insignificant matters become big problems.
In Adam Michnik opinion the present conflict between Poland and Lithuania is impossible to underdstand from the perspective of Berlin, Paris or London. It is bad for both parties and there will be no winner. The chief-editor of “Gazeta Wyborcza” pointed out that Polish-Lithuanian relations shouldn’t be managed by politicians but intellectuals who should create their own simultaneous policy which will resist phobias of both sides. “In Poland there are people who want to make a political profit on this conflict. In this conflict there is a space for politicians. Then, insignificant matters become big problems” – stated Adam Michnik. Polish journalist and historian suggested creating a common Polish -Lithuianian history book as a reply to the present dispute.
In Alvydas Jokubaitis opinion, the Polish-Lithuanian relations are sophisticated as each of the party is convinced that international politics means calculating profits and building relations between both countries on this ground. Such attitude towards international policy made the situation absurd. “At present, we don’t know what is the benefit of the situation. “We say one thing, we think the other and we do something opposite. The truth became Polish or Lithuanian only” – said the Lithuanian philosopher. Jokubaitis is convinced that both sides do not listen to each other and blame each other. “There are a lot of politicians who like to moralize but morality in politics has gone” – noticed Jokubaitis.
He also said that living in post modern times we have to face the specific reality. “Last year in autumn when I was reading Lithuanian comments on the net, I felt like it was 1938 in Kaunas, just after delivering an ultimatum by Polish authortities. And when I went out in the Sunday evening on Vilnius Old Town it was like in prewar Vilnius, full of Poles and Polish sightseeing tours” – said Jokubaitis. He also pointed out that on one hand there is tension between Polish and Lithuanian politicians and on the other hand there is co-operation between Polish and Lithuanian businessmen. Such ecleciticism in Polish-Lithuanian relations is someting positive but it was impossible in inter-war period.
We shouldn’t apologize for Pilsudski
“I don’t know what is the situation in Lithuania but in Poland the Polish-Lithuanian relations play a crucial role in the internal policy. Different political groups, especially the right wing ones try to accuse each other of Lithuanian Poles betrayal” – stated Michnik. Polish essayist pointed out that demands of certain Lithuanian politicians to apologise for Zeligowski rebellion are harmful for the dialogue. “To demand apologies for Pilsudski means to spoil Polish-Lithuanian relations. None of Polish politician will do it. Because each nation has its national resentment and so has Poland. My father was the comunistic party activist and I criticize him for that but If you expect me to apologise for him you will be disappointed” – explained Michnik.
Jokubaitis noticed that problems in Polish-Lithuanian relations arise from both sides lack of good will. “The Lithuanians have problem with good will. They forget their promise once they rise from the negotiations table” – pointed out Alvydas Jokubaitis.
You can demand double names with no consequences
Issues of names spelling and double geographic names have been discussed. In Adam Michnik opinion the names spelling conflict is “lack of imagination”. When one of the meeting participant accused Poland of ratifying the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with exceptions, then the chief-editor of “Gazeta Wyborcza” pointed out that regardless of what the conventions say, the Lithuanian Poles have a right to demand from Lithuanian authorities an original spelling of their names or bilingual names of streets. “I do not refer to any convention. I refer to the right of citizens to demand from their country for Polish names spelling or bilingual street names” – pointed out Michnik. He also pointed out that he was always against Polish nationalism: “My opinion is that as Poland is ten times larger than Lithuania so Polish sins towards Lithuania are ten times larger”. Adam Michnik also pointed out that the same rule should be applied to relations of Lithuania with Polish minority in Lithuania. The Lithuanians should understand that they are more numerous than Poles in Lithuania so their sins towards Poles are also more numerous.
The participants also referred to the Polish politicians attitude. The attitude of Tusk or Sikorski was judged negatively by the Lithuanian part but the chief-editor stood up for them.
Emanuelis Zingeris accused Donald Tusk of conducting electoral campaign during the Gate of Dawn speech last year when he stated that “Polish-Lithuanian relations will be as good as Lithuanian State and Polish minority relations”. In the deputy opinion such behavior was internal affairs of neighbouring state intervention. “I am sure than none of serious Lithuanian politicians would go to Sejny or Suwalki to conduct electoral campaign” – pointed out the deputy.
Michnik agreed that Tusk’s statement was too radical but it helped to cool the nationalistic feeling in Poland off. “From my point of view and I like Lithuania an anti-lithuanian rumpus was prepared in Poland. And what does he do? Donald comes, meets the Prime Minister, they establish committee, he goes to church and say hard words but there is no politics behind the scene” – Michnik tried to explain.
Sikorski is not Lithuania enemy
There were also different opinions about Radosław Sikorski. “I have no likes towards Sikorski. And I do not understand why should I feel anything towards him. If someone says that Sikorski is arrogant then I do not know what does this word mean” – stated Alvydas Jokubaitis.
Adam Michnik explained that if there is general agreement in any issue it is agreement that Sikorski is arrogant. Simultaneously the chief -editor pointed out that Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs has one Lithuanian trait and it is stubbornness. When nothing was handled after many promises made by Lithuanian part Sikorski felt disappointed. “Sikorski is not Lithuania enemy. He grew attached to the thought that he had been treated by Lithuanians with no due respect” – Michnik explained.
Vytas Jurkonis from Eastern Europe Studies Centre pointed out at the end of discussion that now “we can be more optimistic” and Emanuelis Zingeris added that “he hopes that both countries relations will not turn into Slovakian-Hungarian relations”. Adam Michnik also appealed for optimism: “I am always optimistic. And it works out for me!”
Tłumaczenie Dorota Szewczyk-Madejewska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Dorota Szewczyk-Madejewska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.
