- September 17, 2012
- 251
Venclova: the conflict between Lithuania and Poland is a result of the politicians’ flirt with the electors
The conflict between the Lithuanians and the Poles is the result of the politicians flirting with their electors during a fight for their votes – said a renowned Lithuanian poet and translator during an interview for the „Lietuvos Żinios” newspaper that included the interview in its Monday issue.
“The conflict is an internal matter; it is the politicians’ flirt with the most obsolete and laid-back community groups from which they want to win votes – Venclova claims.
The poet highlighted that “there is too much both sides of the conflict are too heavily weighted and that can only be dealt with if they both show good political will”. However he claims that “neither here (Lithuania) nor in there (Poland), it doesn’t exist” and in addition to that, “the leaders of the Polish minority in Lithuania have their own goals and ambitions”.
“The history of both the Polish and the Lithuanian people are interlinked. During the last two decades our contacts have been reinforced and therefore the good political will, will sooner or later return” – Venclova highlighted. He also reminded us that “time and political change are the best of cures” for quarrels between states.
According to the poet, the Lithuanian-Russian relations are even more complicated. “It’s like a monster of which we are scared and many of our publicists and politicians strengthen our fear” he said.
Venclova stated however that „Russia despite their greatest efforts, will not rebuild their empire”. “It’s like the Order of the Teutonic Knights after the battle of Grunwald – they still exist and are impressive but are no more potent. (…) It is important to understand that Russia has lost its fight and there is no reverse. Therefore we need to fear less” – he highlighted.
Although according to Venclova, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin „is not a nice person”, he „is not like Stalin”. “To all those who think that Putin is in fact like the latter, I would just like to say that they have only seen Putin and I also remember what Stalin was like.
Last week Tomas Venclova celebrated his 75th birthday.
Tłumaczenie Kamil Szwarc w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Kamil Szwarc within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.
