The signatory: Poles are under the impression that Lithuania does not want to solve this problem

“The Government of Lithuania is overestimating the influence of radicals and our president has a tough character” – said Vytautas Plečkaitis, the Signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, who is also an Ukrainain ex-ambassador and an advisory to the current Prime Minister.

In the case of Lithuanian-Polish relationships that has recently cooled, the advisory suggests that it is the lack of willingness among Lithuanian authorities which seems to be the problem.

“Everybody in Poland are under the impression that Lithuania does not want to solve this problem and that any ruling government is still only pushing through this bill. Obviously, it was a mistake that the project of the Law on Ethnic Minorities has been prepared by Polish people themselves.” – said Plečkaitis.

According to him, the authorities overestimate the influence of the radicals in Lithuanian society. “Apparently what is happening is because our government has been controlled by radicalism and fear. They think that the radicals in Lithuania are very strong and their opinion is of extreme importance. Moreover, the radicals can have impact on authority and government’s records. I believe it was our mistake.” – emphasized Plečkaitis. The advisory added as well that a huge problem is the lack of cooperation between Lithuanian politicians and citizens of the Vilnius region. All people that were actively participating were taken away by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (EAPL).

The policy pursued by the president Dalia Grybauskaitė also has an impact on those relationships.

“Unfortunately, our President has a tough character and it is difficulty for her to talk with the leaders of other countries.”– highlighted Plečkaitis.

Source: http://zw.lt/litwa/sygnatariusz-polacy-maja-wrazenie-ze-litwini-nie-chca-rozwiazac-tego-problemu/

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.