Polish-Lithuanian relations have to be better than good (Prime Ministers’ meeting in Warsaw)

During today’s meeting of Prime Ministers of Poland and Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevičius said that he was in favour of seeking compromise.This is why a special working group was established, that is to offer the Lithuanian government a proposition which might solve problems concerning national minorities.

“This working group is to consider all the issues and problems, as they are called by some, until March 1st. In March it will present conclusions that will help us decide which path to take,” announced the Lithuanian Prime Minister. He added that some changes would definitely be needed in the Lithuanian legislation. Having been asked how he wanted to implement these changes in a situation where such a solution could be against the Lithuanian Constitution, he answered laconically: “I know this, but the issue will be analysed by legal authorities. It’s hard to answer just yet.” 

Working group

The working group is supposed to include representatives of ministries of culture, foreign affairs, education and justice. The leader of the group will be Deputy Minister of Culture from EAPL, Edward Trusewicz.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister added that he had always considered Poland a strategic partner and that the relations between the two countries needed to be strengthened.

Donald Tusk said that he trusted the new Lithuanian Prime Minister and that he believed in his intentions to tackle the emerging problems. “It is not enough that these relations are traditionally good because we’re certain that they can be and should be better than good” – stressed the Polish Prime Minister. 

Gas connection and promise of help

Before the visit the Lithuanian Prime Minister said that he hoped to raise economic issues during the meeting. The Prime Ministers discussed energy matters and the future Lithuanian presidency in the European Union. “I would put strong emphasis on a very constructive discussion concerning gas link between Lithuania and Poland and a joint application to the European Commission for funding” – said Algirdas Butkevičius.

In the context of the Polish proposition regarding the continuation of gas link between Poland and Lithuania, Prime Minister Butkievičius stated that Lithuania wanted to diversify its sources of gas supply and to continue the joint investment. However, experts say that in a situation where Lithuania wants to build a new terminal in Klaipėda and at the same time export gas by sea from Russia, there will be no demand for the Polish terminal in Świnoujście.

“It is important that we are both interested in the big investment which will be the building of a gas pipeline from Poland to Lithuania, and we will both apply for European support in the construction” – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tusk also promised that Poland would help Lithuania during its leadership in the EU. “We will keep our fingers crossed and hope that the Lithuanian presidency in the EU and the Eastern Partnership will remain in equilibrium so that Europe, anxious and occupied with the South, doesn’t forget about its eastern partner” – promised Tusk. 

Polish-Lithuanian relations

Recently, Polish-Lithuanian relations have deteriorated. The Lithuanian treatment of Polish minority was the apple of discord. The Polish minority has long demanded legalisation of bilingual street and place names, original spelling of surnames, land returns and the list was recently complemented by education problems.

Lithuanians living in Poland also told Lithuanian authorities that they were underfunded by Poland and that some Lithuanian schools would soon have to be closed down.

Last week the country was visited by a new Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevičius, who apologised to Poland in Rzeczpospolita that in 2010 the Lithuanian Seimas had repealed a bill about name spelling. The Seimas repealed the project during the last visit of the late Polish President, Lech Kaczyński. In 2010 the current Prime Minister of Lithuania was just a deputy and he abstained.

Algirdas Butkevičius told Lithuanian journalists before leaving that there was nothing to apologise for because he had not committed a crime.

Today, a meeting was held in Warsaw between the Lithuanian Minister of Energy, Jarosław Niewierowicz, and the Polish Minister of Economy, Janusz Piechociński.

Source: http://pl.delfi.lt/aktualia/litwa/stosunki-polsko-litewskie-musza-byc-lepsze-niz-dobre.d?id=60658291

Tłumaczenie Aleksandra Christ w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Aleksandra Christ the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.