Trusewicz: the Law on Ethnic Minorities is included in a government programme

“The Law on Ethnic Minorities is included in the government programme and refers to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities ratified by Lithuania in 2000” – said Edward Trusewicz, the Culture Vice-Minister, before a lecture which was held within the project „Idea. Spotkania” (“Idea. Meetings”) in the Institute of International Relations and Political Science.

There was a continuation of a cycle of lectures for students from Poland and Lithuania on Friday. There were well-known Polish and Lithuanian politicians, experts and scientists who attended those lectures. “We are glad that an opportunity has arisen for a politician of Polish people living in Lithuania to have a direct contact with Lithuanian community. Lithuanian politicians often talk with Lithuanian media only and Polish ones with Polish media. Today we will rise a subject of the Law on Ethnic Minorities because it is a significant riddle” – began Mariusz Antonowicz, one of the organizer from Lithuania.

The Culture Vice-Minister was delighted with the meeting. “I am happy that I can speak with the future participants of the diplomatic processes. I reserved some time immediately after I had been invited.” – said Trusewicz.

Trusewicz stressed that passing the Law on Ethnic Minorities consists of a few conditions.

“The Law is incorporated into the government programme and refers to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities ratified by Lithuania in 2000” – as he informed.

During the meeting an issue of European and Lithuanian actions was also risen. The vice-minister stated that there is nothing contradictory to the Constitution in the Law on Ethnic Minorities.

“In 1999 the Supreme Court of Lithuania set a precedent according to which a decision concerning the public usage of native language together with other languages, is depended on a legislative body. It has been written in the judicial decisions of the Supreme Court. In terms of name spelling – it is a completely different issue because it was settled by the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has never decided in case of naming streets and places, in other words public usage of language”– pointed out Trusewicz.

He said that his department has prepared a project of amendments to the Law on the State Language. “This project is about three articles which would follow the Law on Ethnic Minorities” – informed Trusewicz. There was a debate after a short lecture.

An exchange of students from Poland and Lithuania is going on within the project „Idea. Spotkania” (“Idea. Meetings”). These are Polish Journalists Association and the Institute of International Relations and Political Science which organize this project. Its realization was possible thanks to the financial support of PZU Foundation.

Source: http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/trusewicz/

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.