Kubilius: I do not support statements which may offend different ethnic groups

The leader of the conservatives and the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius said that patriotism cannot lead to confrontation with the representatives of other ethnic and national groups dwelling in Lithuania.

The former Prime Minister made a comment on the march held by nationalists on 11^th March in Vilnius. ‘I do not approve such statements which may offend different ethnic groups due to some historical consequences and other reasons. I think that patriotism in Lithuania cannot be reduced to a single placard and cannot lead to confrontation with the feelings of other ethnic groups, historical reasons or something similar’ – said Kubilius in the interview with „Žinių radijas”.

According to the conservative, it would be something negative if patriotism would be nothing but one march and certain watchwords only.

On 11^th March about three thousand of nationalists marched through the streets of Vilnius. The authorities of Vilnius had not allowed to march through the main streets of Vilnius, but the police did not register any larger incident.

Source: http://pl.delfi.lt/aktualia/litwa/kubilius-nie-popieram-hasel-ktore-moga-obrazac-rozne-grupy-etniczne.d?id=60908889

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