16 per cent of Lithuanian citizens are representatives of different ethnic groups

Today in Lithuania the Day of National Communities is celebrated. This Day has been set by the Seym of the Lithuanian Republic this year. It was the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and representatives of each national groups, and the appropriate draft of the act was registered by the MP from AWPL Leonard Talmont.

‘The fact itself that the Day of National Communities was established is extremely important for me. It is the occasion to highlight that in our country live not only Lithuanian people – which sometimes is put forward in media – but also other nationalities. Circa 16 per cent of citizens of the country incorporates themselves into different ethnic groups. The representative of each group, no matter which nationality, contributes to the development of our motherland distinctively’ – says undersecretary of culture Edward Trusewicz.

Compliments for representatives of national communities expressed President Dalia Grybauskaitė.

‘Lithuania for many, many years was open, multinational country, full of customs, traditions, and languages. Representatives of diverse nationalities who settled there have always made them more beautiful and more stable – scientists and artists, craftsmen and doctors, tradesmen and soldiers. Each person who has chosen living in Lithuania and has loved this country has the opportunity to compose freely, to work and contribute to the wealth of this country’ – we read in the greeting letter of the President.

‘I think that nations living in Lithuania have common aim – safe, stable, and developing country. To gain it we can and should act together. Let’s trust each other, listen to oneself, and work together’ – wrote the head of state.

Source: http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/16-proc-mieszkancow-litwy-przedstawiciele-roznych-grup-etnicznych/

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