Savukynas: Reluctance toward Poland thanks to Lithuanian politics

“Consistent actions of some Lithuanian activists and politicians resulted in the fact that Poland -our partner in NATO is considered a hostile state” –judges Lithuanian journalist Virginijus Savukynas based on the survey showing that nearly 30 percent of Lithuanians consider Poland an unfriendly state.

“Unfortunately, for the first time, in the eyes of Lithuanians Poland became the enemy number two, just after Russia. We turned our partner in NATO into the enemy. It is thanks to consistent actions of some of our activists and politicians “- said on Tuesday one of the leading Lithuanian journalists Virginijus Savukynas for the portal LRT.

According to the institute of public opinion polls Spinter Tyrimai and its published on Monday survey (conducted for the portal delfi) 26.8 percent residents of Lithuania consider Poland an unfriendly state. The most hostile country toward Lithuania is Russia – regard 72.5 percent of respondents,19.1 percent consider Belarus an unfriendly state.

The results of the survey concerning Poland troubled Lithuanian public opinion.

“The result is surprising. We have to consider it seriously. It  is a task for politicians and intellectuals”- said Nerijus Maliukevičius from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University for the portal delfi. According to Virginijus Savukynas, “Lithuania’s attitude toward Poland is dangerous for the Lithuanian country.” In the opinion of Lauras Bielinis, a political scientist of the University of Witold the Great in Kovno: ” It is a complete absurd that Lithuanians consider Poland, its strategic partner a hostile state.”

Source: http://zw.lt/litwa/savukynas-niechec-polski-zawdzieczamy-litewskim-politykom/

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