Tomaszewski: There may be even a hundred opinions but they will not prevent the passing of law

Valdemar Tomaševski, the leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, did not give meaning to the criticism of the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language concerning bilingual location and street signs and to a permission to communicate in Polish in governments in which Poles constitute at least a quarter of all citizens.

„It is obvious that different commissions, including the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language, are expressing their opinions. Non-governmental organizations will do the same, as well as other groups, therefore, there may be even a hundred opinions. Nevertheless, it is a government programme and it will be realized.” – Tomaševski said on Monday, after the meeting of ruling coalition.

According to him, such a critical opinion of the commission will not stop in passing the Law on National Minorities.

The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language does not approve of bilingual location and street signs and the permission to communicate in Polish in governments in which Poles constitute at least a quarter of all citizens.

The Commission says that the project of the Law on National Minorities, prepared by working party under the leadership of deputy minister of culture from the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Edward Trusewicz, will practically establish bilingualism, which would violate the constitution.

“Demanding that ethnic minorities have right to communicate in institutions in their mother tongue means that all administrative employees will have to know not only their national language but also one or more ethnic minorities’ languages” – say requests of commissions published on the Internet.

The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language also warns that bilingual signs can possibly disturb the work of police, emergency service and rescue services.

Source: http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/tomaszewski-opinii-moze-byc-nawet-sto-ale-nie-przeszkodza-one-w-przyjeciu-ustawy/

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