Jarosław Kalinowski: We have to put pressure on the Lithuanian side with bigger determination

After the meeting with two of vice-charmen of the Seimas, Vydas Gedvilas and Jarosław Narkiewicz, an MEP Jarosław Kalinowski, who since yesterday is paying a visit in Lithuania, has given a floral tribute and kindled a candle by the Mother and Son’s Heart Mausoleum in Rasos.

“That conversation reminded of the previous ones. Our partners says that it has to be solved, that they can’t see any problems. By nature, I am a reasonable optimist and for a good coin I am taking today’s conversation, as also the recent Prime Minister’s declarations that the works on the bill of national minorities will be continued and the bill will go to the Seimas. I would like to believe that it is going to happen. We are celebrating this year the twentieth anniversary of signing the Polish-Lithuanian treaty and we are still having problems with going through with the articles concerning minorities” – said to zw.lt Jarosław Kalinowski, an MEP and a politician of the Polish People’s Party.  Kalinowski pointed out however, that the basic aim of his visit in Lithuania are the solemnities in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Vilnius district affiliate of the Association of Poles in Lithuania.

Lack of will and determination

The politician claimed that he is well-versed about the problems of local Poles and the negative thing is that the Lithuanian side doesn’t fulfill its obligations. “If there were will and determination on the side of Lithuanian government and the Seimas, it could be certainly carried out. However, I am observing a different approach of the Polish side to that problem. Radosław Sikorski a week ago, maybe a bit more, has very expressly remarked towards the bizarre situation for imposing the punishment on chairman Daszkiewicz for not removing the boards. Sikorski’s speech was that the court was fining Mr Daszkiewicz for something which were to be financed by the budget of Lithuanian country” – the MP pointed out.

Although, Kalinowski wasn’t very delighted with the second part of the head’s of Polish diplomacy speech that “the Lithuanian Poles Electoral Action is not only a parliamentary club, but also a part of the coalition ruling in Lithuania. Poles developed there the position which should make the possibility to lead to the satisfying solutions”. “I wouldn’t like to comment on it. As I am glad of the other Sikorski’s speeches, this one just doesn’t fit the others” – the politician pointed out. Adding that the LPEA being in the government doesn’t take responsibility only for the national minorities’ issues.

One should do one’s job

Kalinowski is convinced that if the resolving of that important for the Polish community postulates won’t happen, the position of the Polish government will be more rigorous. “And it would be bad if we put our bipartite issues on the forum of the Union or European Council, or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s commissioner” – pointed out the politician. “One should do the one’s job. One should do the one’s job here in the Vilnius region and we should put pressure on the Lithuanian side with bigger determination, and please God, effectiveness. On our partners, so that all that issues will be tied up” – added Kalinowski.

In Rasos, present was also the vice-chairman of the Seimas of the LR, Jarosław Narkiewicz and the Ambassador of the PR in Lithuania, Jarosław Czubiński. Narkiewicz is rather satisfied with the meeting, although the situation itself is bad with regard to the law. “The first vice-chairman of the Seimas, Mr Vydas Gedvilas, has positive attitude towards our issues and only the way of resolving it has to be discussed. Gedvilas doesn’t see any problem that beside the Lithuanian writing will be a writing in Polish. I recon then, that the meeting was by all means positive and it will help in looking for the allies to improve our situation” – said to zw.lt Jarosław Narkiewicz.

Source: http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/jaroslaw-kalinowski-musimy-z-wieksza-determinacja-wywierac-presje-na-strone-litewska/

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