President’s adviser: The spelling of surnames is not only a Polish problem

“The issue of the spelling of names in Lithuania is not only a problem for Poles, it should be resolved” – believes Nerijus Alexiejūnas, the adviser to President Dalia Grybauskaite for foreign policy.

We are currently discussing rational arguments and jointly looking for solutions. The President also expressed his position that this is not only a matter for Poles in Lithuania, it is a matter for all Lithuanian citizens, and of course, in one way or another, this issue must be resolved. In the modern world, we see different variants of surnames, when the married couple receives different names during the wedding. It is indeed a matter for all Lithuanian citizens, “emphasized Alexejūnas.

During Dala Grybauskaitė’s visit to Poland and her meeting with President Andrzej Duda, the situation of Poles living in Lithuania was discussed. “There are projects of relevant statutes and I hope that the one enacted will improve the situation of Poles in Lithuania” – said Andrzej Duda. President Dalia Grybauskaitė assured that Lithuania treats all nationalities equally, and when it comes to the issue of the spelling of surnames, as she said, three projects are currently being considered in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.

The president’s adviser in Tuesday’s interview also added to stay focused in the search for new formats of cooperation with Poland. This is a commentary on the words of the chairman of the Parliament, Viktoras Pranckietis, who during his stay in Warsaw informed that Lithuania received a proposal from Poland for cooperation within the Visegrad Group and the Weimar Triangle.

“Our forms of cooperation are well-established, and we should stay focused. We have the cooperation formats of the Baltic States, the six Baltic and Nordic countries, the eight meetings that have worked, “said Alexeyunas in an interview with Žinių radijas.

The adviser agreed that this cooperation could take place at the level of parliaments.

Yesterday during the meeting of Viktoras Pranckietis and Stanisław Karczewski the issues of cooperation in several international formats were discussed. Listed, among others Tricity and Bucharest B9 format.