Visits

Working visit by Dalia Grybauskaitė to the Republic of Poland, 11 November 2011

President Dalia Grybauskaitė participated in the festive events dedicated to Poland's Independence Day, on the invitation of President Bronisław Komorowski of Poland, and extended congratulations to all Polish people on their National Day.

According to the President, the Polish people have already achieved very much in creating the wellbeing of their state: "Your country is an honored and trusted partner in the European Union and NATO and this is the result of hard and continuous work which will further contribute to strengthening Poland. I am confident that your country's successful presidency in the European Union will be an excellent reflection of all accomplishments of the Polish people over the last twenty years," Dalia Grybauskaitė said addressing the participants in the Polish language.

Poles can be proud of their outstanding countrymen who have strived for more democracy and freedom in Europe, she said. The President mentioned Czesław Miłosz - the poet whose centenary is commemorated worldwide this year - as one of the most prominent fighters for freedom of speech and thought. She said that Lithuanians were glad being able to consider this Polish poet also as their own.

The President laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and paid tribute to those who had died for the freedom of Poland.

After the celebration, President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Polish President Bronisław Komorowski and discussed the development and perspectives of bilateral relations, joint energy projects, the effect of the eurozone debt crisis on the economies of both countries, and the priority tasks in negotiating a new financial framework of the European Union.

The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland agreed to contribute personally to promoting the bilateral relations in various forms including cooperation in education, culture, economy, and other important spheres.

"Now as we mark twenty years of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland, our countries have many common projects and goals which include power and gas interconnection projects and cooperation of oil companies. The implementation of these projects will serve for the benefit of the Lithuanian and Polish people and the security of the region as a whole. Due to geographical and historical considerations we are obliged to look for the best solutions to Lithuanian and Polish people in all spheres," the President said.

The Presidents also touched upon the possibility to pool efforts for ensuring nuclear security at nuclear power plants to be developed in the neighborhood of Lithuania and Poland - Kaliningrad and Astravets. They also discussed their preparedness for the NATO Summit in Chicago and the matters relating to the EU presidency. According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, Poland's experience in the presidency at this time which is very difficult for the European Union will be very useful for Lithuania in its forthcoming presidency of the EU in 2013.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė during her visit in Poland discussed with representatives of the Lithuanian community the situation of the Lithuanian ethnic minority in Poland and the problems of Lithuanian schools.

Poland-based Lithuanians informed the President about a complicated situation with Lithuanian schools in Poland. The Polish government funding for Lithuanian schools is too small and not all textbooks are available in the Lithuanian language. Many Lithuanian children in Poland have no possibility to study and acquire education in their native language, get acquainted with the history and culture of their homeland. Since 1998, the number of Lithuanian schools in Poland has decreased by half, while in Lithuania the funding for ethnic minority schools this year has grown and decision-making in terms of school-size is favorable for these small schools.

"The Polish education policy is not favorable for Lithuanian schools. Therefore, the Lithuanian Government for the first time is granting direct subsidy of 350 000 litas to Lithuanian schools in Poland," President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined.

The Presidents of both countries during their meeting agreed to contribute personally to promoting the bilateral relations, including cooperation in education.

Dalia Grybauskaitė extended thanks to representatives of the Lithuanian community for their continuous efforts in fostering the Lithuanian spirit, mother tongue, and customs.

"It is our duty to help you to learn the Lithuanian language and preserve our culture. Every Lithuanian - living in Lithuania or in the farthest corner of the world - is precious for Lithuania. I am proud that our countrymen in Poland maintain close ties with Lithuania and are active members of the Lithuanian world community," the President said.

More than 10 000 Lithuanians currently live in Poland, mainly in Puńsk and Sejny districts.

Press Service of the President