Mass solidarity action in Vilnius. Vytautas Landsbergis supported Belarusians. :: Charter'97 :: News

This is the 4th ”Day of Belarusian-Lithuanian solidarity” action held in Vilnius. This time the action took place together with the Lithuanian Independence Day. The day of February 16 has the same value for the Lithuanians as March 25, the Day of Will, - for the Belarusians.

Today, near the House of Signators (where in 1918 delegates from all over Lithuania signed the Act of Independence) in Zamkavaya Street a white-red-white flag has been fluttering. “Center for United Belarusian Initiatives”, the organization that unites the youth of different nationalities, endeavors to let politicians and residents of Lithuania know about the Days of Solidarity. While the Belarusian and Lithuanian youth arranged the solidarity action, the traditional solemn festivities of the Independence Day, broadcast by the state Lithuanian media, were held.

In his introduction speech, the Chairperson of the Lithuanian Soim congratulated everyone on “the birthday of Lithuania” and remarked:

“Today the representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces have joined us. We cannot bear responsibility for the history accomplished before us; we are responsible, however, for the history that we will leave for our descendants - it depends on our will and on our ideals.”

Lithuanian European Parliamentarian Vytautas Landsbergis, the leader of ”Sayudzis”, the first leader of the renewed Lithuanian independent state, called in his introduction to uphold the solidarity action and democratic ambitions of the Belarusians.

“On the 16th day of each month we recall the destiny of our Belarusian brothers, who are so alike with us. We are united by Nioman, we have so much in common in our characters and folk songs. The Belarusians aspire to freedom. There are young people with the Belarusian flag here… (applause)… Long live free Belarus!… It should be a country with Belarusian schools, a country where people are not forced to respect the dictator, who came from a village and reigns alone on all television channels. Today in Belarus the opposition leaders either disappear with no trace or get cast to jail with no reasons and no guilt proved. Let us wish Belarus freedom and, at the same time, let us estimate the value of our independence”, - Vytautas Landsbergis declared.

Several hundreds of people present at the solemn ceremony cheered the Belarusians and the Belarusian flag. Those who value the ideals of the Lithuanian independence joined the action of the Belarusian-Lithuanian solidarity. Vilnius dwellers will light candles tonight, at 8 p.m.