Jacek J. Komar: Minister Š. Birutis does not want to demonize Kremlin

What Lithuanian Minister of Culture Šarūnas Birutis had said, would make sense only if we filter it and consider to be a mental shortcut. Firstly, it should be understood that the minister is a member of the Labour Party, which is leaded by a native Russian who is convinced that Russia, especially Kremlin, should not be demonized.

These are Conservatives who have recently contributed to the process of demonizing Russia. The minister took it for granted that they would stop and understand that not only Russia aspires to have Lithuania subordinated, but also other neighboring states, thus Poland as well.

The minister is concerned that due to all resources being directed at an anti-Russian front, Poland would soon enslave Lithuania culturally. I understand that according to the minister a policy of cultural “equal distance” from Russia and Poland should be pursued. Dealing with this problem in such a way should not make Poles angry. On the contrary, it should make them proud. It has been many years now since different activists and politicians in Poland have been demanding the increase of expenditures on promotion of Poland on the other side of the eastern boarder.

According to them, Polish culture, once so popular on these grounds, completely fails to win when it comes to Russian culture influences. Within few years, in those pessimists opinion, countries once closely culturally linked with Poland, will be light years from each other. The words of Lithuanian minister should be like a music to their ears – polish cultural influences are still as strong as Russian. Russia spends a dozen times more than Poland on their “soft” force, though.

Source: http://zw.lt/opinie/jacek-j-komar-minister-birutis-nie-chce-demonizowac-kremla/

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.