Overcoming stereotypes,

Lithuaniais one of the few post-Soviet countries that can boast of having successfully overcome the totalitarian past. In 2004, the Lithuanian Republic unequivocally outlined its future as it joined NATO and the EU together with its neighbors, Latvia and Estonia.

Unlike Ukraine, this small Baltic state had a relatively short experience within the USSR. “Not too long, indeed,” as Lithuanians themselves will say. The older generation speaks fluent Russian, and Soviet-style architecture is still conspicuous in Vilnius. However, there is a light tinge of nostalgia for those times. The proof can be seen in the success of the Social Democrats and the Party of Labor, led by the Russian-born billionaire Viktor Uspasskikh, in the last parliamentary election. However, Uspasskikh never got the prime minister’s post, augured by some observers.

“How come Lithuania succeeded?” “For what desserts is it accepted in the European family?” Such questions buzzed in my mind all the time of my stay in this Baltic country. But four days with an extensive agenda and numerous meetings is perhaps not enough to provide an exhaustive answer. It is easy to see that Lithuanians are proud of their country, its history, their fellow countrymen, and their government. A relatively small population may be a key. According to the Lithuanian Department for Statistics, in 2012 the country had a population of 3,199,800. And the smaller a community, the closer. And another thing: my new Lithuanian acquaintances mentioned that Lithuania had to build its army from scratch. They see it as quite an achievement: the army is efficient, modern, and integrated in NATO. I would also add that it is integrated in the new system of values and worldview.

LUSTRATION AND COMMUNIST CHAMELEONS

Laurynas KASCIUNAS, Head of Political Analysis and Research Division at the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, admits that in 1989 he would not even dream of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia becoming independent states. “On the contrary, everyone was talking only of revamping the USSR back then. America relied on Gorbachev’s perestroika and transformation of the Soviet Union. Kohl and Mitterrand also invested a lot of effort into it. But Landsbergis [Chairman of Lithuania’s Supreme Council. – Ed.] went further. On January 13, 1991, the notorious events outside the TV Center in Vilnius, decided the outcome [on that day Soviet troops shot at a rally of Lithuanian citizens, killing 14. – Ed.].” After that the world recognized the independent state of Lithuania, which first gained independence [from the Russian Empire. – Ed.] in February, 1918.

“In 1992 Lithuania was considering a law on lustration, but Sajudis [the Lithuanian democratic movement. – Ed.] lost the elections, and Social Democrats returned,” continues Kasciunas. “But it is only thanks to Landsbergis that the communist symbols were banned. But for him, it wouldn’t have happened.” However, it is too early to triumph.

“We do not have a communist party anymore, but there are others which exploit its voters and flirt with them. For one, the Social Democrats and the Party of Labor. They have only changed their methods, dumping the red flags and other communist symbols.” According to Kasciunas, Lithuanian communists split into two branches: one “turned into Social Democrats,” and the other “remained communists.”

LITHUANIA, NATO, AND UKRAINE

Lithuanians are proud of their NATO membership, says Vytautas NAUDUZAS, ambassador for energy and transport policy issues, personal representative of the chairman-in-office on transport in OSCE. At a meeting in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he told the group of Ukrainian journalists, experts, and students about the infrastructure dimension of Lithuania’s cooperation with the Alliance. In particular, Lithuania is responsible for shipping NATO cargoes to Afghanistan. “We are also interested in any cooperation with Ukraine. We have had it for centuries, in the military sphere in particular. Ukraine is an important country for NATO, even though it is not a member state, as it participates in almost all military operations,” said he.

Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense also notes the deserts of the Ukrainian military. “You do not change your strategic partners. We have set this policy. And even in the Eastern Partnership Ukraine has a special place. The LITPOLUKRBRIG (Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade operating in Afghanistan) is an example of cooperation with non-EU partners,” says Andrius PURVANECKAS, council at the Lithuanian defense ministry. According to him, apart from Ukraine’s “political situation” and “legal issues,” our two countries have “great relations.” “Our joint work in Afghanistan shows that the Ukrainian armed forces completely meet the Western European standards. The participation of Ukrainians in operations under the aegis of NATO, UN, and the EU is a vivid example.” By the way, last year a Ukrainian medic saved a wounded Lithuanian soldier’s life in Afghanistan.

The visit to the Ministry of Defense proved that Lithuanians think a lot of their military reform, participation in the NATO operations, and rendering any assistance that the Alliance needs. In particular, beside ISAF, Lithuanians also take part in the Baltic air-policing mission and grant their airfields and air bases to the Alliance. One of them, situated outside Siauliai, was also visited by the Ukrainian delegation.

Lithuaniaremembers the process of preparing to join NATO very well. “The polls suggested that a part of Lithuanians believed that NATO ascension was too costly. We explained to the people that collective security is always cheaper than independent defense,” relates Marius ALEKNA, press secretary of the defense ministry. Yet despite this and other stereotypes, the Lithuanian government was able to convince the population, and it looks as if now everyone is satisfied. I asked Lithuanians about the prestige of the military service, and got lots of positive feedback. So the prestige of the military is high. However, I also met some people who were rather skeptical about both the Euro-Atlantic cooperation and EU membership. At Europa, a huge shopping mall, I met Alexandra, who sold hand-made bracelets and earrings. She said that after joining the EU, living became harder: “As a private entrepreneur, I have to pay more taxes. That is why I’m planning to move to Belarus.” I have to admit that I was somewhat surprised by this answer. “Why Belarus?” “That’s where my boyfriend lives. And you pay less tax there. I’m going to open my own business there,” said the young woman.

“LITHUANIA IS UKRAINE’S FRIEND IN EUROPEAN STRUCTURES”

“The new Lithuanian government’s agenda has a lot of promises but no concept of where we are heading, what kind of country we are building, and where our specialization is,” says Kasciunas. “It looks as if all opposition parties pooled their promises and thus created an agenda. For instance, they say that they want to attract foreign investors – adding immediately that they intend to increase income taxes. I see no logic here whatsoever.” Meanwhile he does not believe that any strategic changes in the new government’s EU policy are possible. “Maybe the Butkevicius government will try to improve the relations with Russia during the first year in office. As usual, this attempt will fail. Our political parties have no alternative European visions,” added he.

Despite Ukraine’s multi-vector policy, Vilnius is “very positive” about Ukraine. “We all understand what you are going through, and we are also well aware that Ukraine is no Russia. We also realize that everything must be done to involve Ukraine in the European orbit. Lithuania is Ukraine’s friend in European structures. If anyone defends Ukraine there, it’s Lithuania and Poland,” assured Kasciunas.

Whatever happens to its policy, Lithuania’s European choice is obvious and has no alternatives – even despite some Lithuanians’ nostalgia for the USSR and the active policy of one of its neighbors, trying to pressurize Vilnius via gas supplies. In one of the offices in the Lithuanian foreign ministry I came across a collage of photos and clippings from various periodicals. The author is Jonas Mekas, a renowned American director of Lithuanian origin. The title of the collage is Lithuania and the Collapse of the USSR. Can you imagine anything like this at any Ukrainian ministry?

The author extends his sheer gratitude to the NATO Information and Documentation Center in Ukraine, as well as to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania for sponsoring the trip.