Algirdas KUMZA: Pragmatism without morality may cause grave harm

Like many countries of the world, Lithuania is feeling the effect of a global crisis. Yet this Baltic country is not turning to international institutions for credits. Is Lithuania afraid of public unrest due to the worsening economic situation and rampant inflation? What is the attitude of Vilnius to Brussels’ advice to establish pragmatic relations with its eastern neighbor? What impact may the coming presidential elections have on the situation in the country? This, as well as diplomatic etiquette, is the subject of an interview with Algirdas Kumza, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Ukraine.

Mr. Kumza, your country’s Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said the other day that “we can create a different Lithuania.” Can you say what he had in mind? What “different Lithuania” is it all about?

“A stable and prosperous one. Lithuanians are missing today the Lithuania we began to build in 2004, i.e., after joining the EU. At the time, we had a 5-to-6-percent annual economic growth and the inflation was no more than 3 percent. People’s well-being increased with each passing year, they were building a lot and taking out soft loans, and life was stable. To continue building this kind of Lithuania is the dream and aspiration of most Lithuanians. But we saw last year that we were getting ‘overheated.’ It was clear that we had take measures so that this overheating would not set the economy on fire. Then, on top of this, we suddenly got into the grip of the global economic crisis. It swept, like a tsunami, over many sectors of our economy. Bankruptcies began. But, in spite of this, we still have a stable banking system and a national currency pegged to the euro. These two steady pillars inspire confidence that default will bypass our country.”

Is your country receiving aid from the EU or is it going to cope with the crisis consequences on its own?

“We can feel the European Union’s assistance every day. There are a lot of programs now underway in the field of infrastructure, agriculture, etc. As of today, the government of Lithuania is not seeking credits: on the contrary, it is trying to save on something. Frankly, experts are already advising to turn to international institutions for ‘respite money’ in order to support people who have lost their jobs or are unable to pay off mortgages and tuition fees. The idea is to ‘lie low’ during the crisis.

“I am sure Lithuania will overcome this crisis, as it has done with many other problems before. For example, when we were joining the EU, many were saying that the Lithuanian economy was unprepared because it was used to working for the eastern neighbor and other ex-Soviet countries and that it would not manage to adjust to tough competition and stringent quality requirements. And what happened? Instead of slowing down, our growth rate only increased. As for the gas, there was a time when Lithuania paid one of the highest prices in the EU — over 500 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. But even this could not hamper our economic growth.”

As the crisis rages on and the living standards are plummeting, are you afraid of the Latvia-type public unrest?

“There were protests in January. Unfortunately, some protesters held stones in their hands and a window was broken in the parliament building. This was, of course, a shock for all Lithuanians, for me personally, for the police and government. People had never come out on a demonstration with stones in their hands in all the years of Lithuania’s independence. Nobody was prepared for this. Naturally, there are reasons why people should be disgruntled. We accept sound protesting, when people are making amply-grounded demands to the government. But when there are aggressive protesters, including drunken stone-throwing teenagers, it is nothing but unrest. Incidentally, other rallies in Kaunas and Klaipeda were absolutely calm and peaceful. I think police did some crime-prevention work there, and the organizers were more attentive in preparing those rallies.”

In other words, you see no grounds for disturbances?

“Not for disturbances. I often visit my parents in the countryside as well as speak to urban residents. I see no tension or a desire to revolt in my country. I am sure that our government and president will call on people to show solidarity. I see no other way out of crises and quandaries than rallying together all our reason, knowledge, and strength. And Lithuanians tend to stick together in difficult times. The struggle for independence was proof of this. At the time, all were united and gathered on the same city square—thus began the Singing Revolution of the 1990s.”

Mr. Kumza, do you think the coming presidential elections will promote closer unity or, on the contrary, disunity of Lithuanians?

“I think these elections will help find a way out of the crisis, for every candidate will be offering his own economic program and his own vision of riding out the crisis. As a matter of fact, our president is not responsible for the economic situation. He is the commander-in-chief and the main architect of the foreign policy. He does not deal directly with the economy. But, as the situation is too grave and there is no more important task for Lithuania today than the solution of economic and social problems, people will naturally expect every candidate to propose a crisis-settlement program. Lithuania will only benefit from this. Everybody will benefit. Undoubtedly, there is populism in any elections. There were parliamentary elections in Lithuania recently, and it appeared that voters had rejected a lot of crowd-pleasers. I think people will be able to elect the most constructive and sound-minded individual.”

What about the EU Commissioner Dalia Gribauskaite?

“In terms of popularity, she is now the number one politician. Working as the minister of finance and holding other offices, she gained the reputation of a very principled and courageous person. She even argued with the prime minister and prevailed.”

She has not yet made an official bid, has she?

“Not yet because all the presidential candidates still have time to think it over. The EU Commissioner promised to announce her decision tomorrow, on Thursday. I know that many candidates are waiting for Gribauskaite to make a decision. If she says ‘yes,’ they will think whether it is worthwhile at all to spend money and make efforts to vie with such a strong rival. If she says ‘no,’ there will be more candidates. Incidentally, we have a strong pleiad of forty-year-old politicians, including the chief of Lithuanian diplomacy, Foreign Minister V. U ackas.”

Mr. Kumza, what is the attitude of your country to Brussels’ calls to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy, especially toward Russia?

“I think we are being very pragmatic in relations with Russia. We have a long-term treaty with Russia that is valid until 2015. We have solved all concrete problems, such as transit to Kaliningrad oblast and gas supplies. Yes, the price is very high. But our people have never got frozen after the Gorbachev-time blockade.”

What about the Druzhba oil pipeline?

“When Russia cut off oil to the Ma eikiu Nafta refinery two years ago, Lithuanian politicians were convinced it was a political decision (while Russian representatives talked about repairing the pipeline).Yes, Lithuanian politicians continue to stand their ground on the international arena, but we have solved this problem pragmatically. I mean that in due time we had built a terminal that is now receiving huge oil tankers.

“It is a vogue today to say that all relations should be pragmatic. We are a small country with a very long experience of statehood. We used to lose our independence many times—only to regain it. It is clear even at the genetic level that our policies cannot rest on pragmatism alone. Pragmatism without morality may do harm, bring one into a blind alley, and cause major tragedies. What distinguishes our President Valdas Adamkus from other European politicians is that every time he gets down to a pragmatic task he recalls and reminds the others about human values, morals, and the historical truth.”

Minister of Defense Rasa Jukneviciene said recently that the Baltic States expect the Barack Obama administration to be the guarantor of their security. Besides, she spoke in favor of NATO and the US expanding their presence in the Baltic region. Does this mean that, although your country has joined the EU and NATO, the security question remains open?

“There is no question here. We are sure that, in compliance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, all the alliance member states guarantee our security because we are making a contribution to the security of others. In this matter, the alliance has provided us with a good psychological feeling of security. But we must care about our security every day, so we set aside a lot of money for this. Incidentally, we have assessed that it is much cheaper for us to be part of a collective security system than to maintain the armed forces on our own. We are also constantly consulting with partners about our border security. Our air space is being protected by the patrolling of our NATO partners’ planes.

“As for the US, Lithuanians remember very well the visit of President George W. Bush, when he said in Vilnius that the enemy of Lithuania is the enemy of America. We were glad to hear this, although, on the other hand, the Lithuanian mentality is free of the enemy image. We do not live in a friend-or-foe system of coordinates. Nevertheless, the mayor of Vilnius has put up a plaque with the US president’s words on a City Hall wall. We would be glad today if the US continued this foreign policy, considered us a strategic partner, and was openly saying this to all.”

Do Lithuanians support the defense minister’s decision to send another 20 soldiers to Afghanistan?

“The additional contingent will be sent only for the summer period, when the local elections will be held in the province of Gor. This force does not exceed the quota earlier established by parliament, so politicians and the public have not resumed any debates on this. We must take part in the Afghanistan reconstruction program and thus make our payment for our security. We cannot only reap the fruits of the collective security system. We need to make our contribution, too.”

Mr. Kumza, in closing I would like to touch the subject of diplomatic etiquette. You may know that the Vienna Convention has become a popular topic in Ukraine lately. What do you think an ambassador should do to be expelled from the country in which he serves?

“I have never pondered this question and cannot imagine this kind of situation. On the contrary, we are doing good things every day to make the relations between our counties still warmer. We, Lithuanian diplomats, are trying to meet all requirements of the Ukrainian law and the Vienna Convention. And common wisdom tells us that when you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. We are taking a very respectful attitude to Ukrainian laws. But this does not mean that we are unfeeling beholders and cool analysts. We are also worried about what is going on in the politics and economy of Ukraine. We have gone a very long way together. We will not solve our problems without mutual sympathy and assistance.”