Europe in the Years of the Cold War
Traditionally, the uprising in Europe in the 20th century is related to the beginning of the Cold War in 1946 when Winston Churchill stated that the “Iron Curtain” was lowered on Eastern Europe. However, as far back as 1939 the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Non-aggression Pact referred to as the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and in its secret protocols carved up Europe into spheres of influence. During the Second World War this was put into practice. In 1939 - 1940 the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic States, West Belarus, West Ukraine, western lands of Romania (Bessarabia and North Bukovina, the present Moldova). During the WWII the Red Army occupied Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and East Germany. From that time the entire Eastern Europe was controlled by the totalitarian communist regime, which started to fall apart in the late 1980s and collapsed completely in 1991 after the downfall of the Soviet Union.
The European Union and its neighbours
"Europe" is one of the most disputable geographical names, and arguments most often arise about the boundaries of Europe. Though the European Union encompasses Central and Eastern Europe, it is much smaller than the continent of Europe itself. The territory that stretches from the coasts washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the West to the Ural Mountains in the East, the Arctic Ocean in the North and the Black and Caspian Sea in the south east, is usually considered to the continent of Europe.
Demonstration of Freedom
Resistance to the Soviet Union and dissident activities in Lithuania did not stop during its occupation by the USSR. People did not forget the lost independence, however, a fear of repressions made them behave in a cautious way. 1987 was the year of the first public political demonstrations. On September 23, a group of people gathered at the monument to poet Adam Mickiewicz in Vilnius where they condemned the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact signed on 23 August 1939 and its secret protocols leading to Soviet occupation of Lithuania. In 1988, a public Lithuanian Reform Movement Sąjūdis – was created.
The Baltic Way
In 1989, people of the three Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – literally joined hands to form a 595 kilometre long human chain. The Baltic Way started at Gediminas Castle in Vilnius, went through Riga as far as Tompea Castle in Tallinn. About two million people stood at the same time with their hands joined thus expressing their solidarity and their craving for freedom.
Peaceful Revolutions in the Former Soviet Republics
Mass protests in Kiev in 2004 were lodged against the falsification of the results of the elections and were referred to as the Orange Revolution. The Revolution of Roses was a non-violent change of power in Georgia following street protests of many thousands that were staged on 21-23 November 2003 and the main cause of which was considered to be the falsification of the results of the elections to the Parliament of Georgia.
The Act of Independence
At the elections to the Supreme Council of Lithuania held on 24 February 1990, 72 out of 90 elected deputies represented the reform movement Sąjūdis. The newly elected Parliament adopted the Act on the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania by the absolute majority of vote (124 deputies voted in favour and none of the deputies voted against; six deputies abstained) on March 11, 1990. That was the first Act on Independence among the countries of the Soviet Union. Lithuania, having re-established its independence, did not only begin to destroy the soviet symbols, such as the monument to Lenin but also shook the fundamentals of the entire Soviet empire.
The First Lithuanian Visa
After declaring independence it was very important to receive attention of international society. The first foreign journalist who arrived in Lithuania was Edward Lucas. In his book “The New Cold War” he describes how the first Lithuanian visa was issued to him at Vilnius airport: „At the airport in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius a grim-faced Soviet border guard confiscated my passport. But minutes later I was met by a delegation led by the new Lithuanian foreign minister, Algirdas Saudargas. “What if I don‘t get my passport back?” I asked, as we sat nervously on the red velvet sofas of the VIP lounge. “Then we climb out of that window. You can get another passport. But we cannot get another you,” said a biochemist-turned politician, in stilted but heartfelt English. For a brief moment I was a symbol of the Lithuania’s perilously fragile status. If they could get at least one foreigner into their country across a soviet-controlled border, then it was a sign to the rest of the world that their independence was more than a brave declaration. When a border guard returned, Mr. Saudargas produced a stamp from his pocket and gave me Lithuanian visa 0001.”
International Recognition of the Independence
Iceland was the first independent country to recognise Lithuania’s Independence when the Alting (Parliament) of Iceland adopted the resolution confirming this on February 11, 1991. The Kingdom of Sweden was the first to open its Embassy in Vilnius on August 29, 1991. The Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden Lena Hjelm-Walen, Vice Foreign Minister Valdemaras Katkus and the Ambassador of Sweden to Lithuania Lars Magnusson participated in the opening. Vice President of the United States of America Dan Quayle (centre) and Prime Minister of Lithuanian Gediminas Vagnorius participated in the opening of the US Embassy in Vilnius, on January 7, 1992.
Barricades in Vilnius, 1991
Soviets had been preparing a serious ordeal to the people of Lithuania since the Declaration of Independence in 11th March, l990. On 10 January 1991, President of the USSR Michail Gorbachev issued the ultimatum to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania demanding the immediate reinstitution of the validity of the Constitution of the USSR. In those days armless people came to Vilnius from all over Lithuania to defend the most significant sites of the State – the Supreme Council (Parliament), the Government, the Radio and Television Centre, the Television Tower, and the Press Palace. Barricades were erected, that are now turned into the Memorials commemorating the Soviet attacks of the 13th of January.
Fighting for Independence
At midnight on 13 January soviet tanks, armoured cars, and covered trucks moved from military base in the northern Vilnius in the direction of the TV tower. A crowd of armless people got together to defend the soviet target. During this bloody campaign 14 civilians were killed and more than 500 people were wounded. Later that night the tanks drove towards the building of the Parliament. However, about 20 thousand defenders had already gathered nearby and chanted, prayed and sang. The troops did not dare to attack the crowd again.
International Support
Soviet Union planned to start attacks in Lithuania in January, 1991, at the time when the Persian Gulf War captured the world’s attention. However, even under conditions of the then strict control and limited communication possibilities the world society heard about the events in Vilnius and went out into the streets to express the support for Lithuania. A mass demonstration was launched even in Moscow. The first page of the Danish newspaper POLITIKEN of 15 January reflects the then reaction of the Western states to the January events in Lithuania. The national newspaper carries the article “20 000 thousand has gathered to support Lithuania” at the top and the article “Gorbachev denies any Responsibility” at the bottom on the right; the article at the bottom in the centre writes about the preparation for the Persian Gulf War.
Lithuania Joins EU
On 1 May 2004 Lithuania became a member of the European Union. The country’s membership in the European Union crowned the efforts the country had made for more than ten years since the re-establishment of Lithuania’s independence to return to the family of the European nations to which Lithuania had always belonged historically, with which it is related by its common past and common values.
Vilnius Enters International Arena
People come to Vilnius on business, on official and state visits. Since the re-establishment of independence, Heads of numerous states have visited Vilnius. Recognising Lithuania’s achievements nationally and on an international scale, members of Royal families from Europe and all over the world have honoured Vilnius with their visits.
Centre of Europe in Lithuania
The centre of Europe lies 26 kilometres north of the capital of Lithuania. This fact has been registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1989 scientists of the French National Geographical Institute presented the definition of the geographical centre of Europe and by means of the scientific method of gravitation centres determined that this centre exists north of Vilnius (26 km), near the village of Purnuškiai. The co-ordinates of the geographical centre of Europe are 54o 54’ N and 25o19’ E.
Vilnius – a Political Leader of the Region
In 2004, at the end of his term of office, President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma invited the Head of Lithuania to act as a negotiator in regulating the political crisis. The European Union negotiators of Lithuania and Poland, President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Poland Alexander Kwaniewski and the European Union High Representative for the common foreign and security policy Javier Solana met with President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and the leader of the opposition Viktor Jushchenko. In August 2008 President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, together with President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and President of Ukraine Viktor Jushchenko, President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Guodmanis, arrived in Tbilisi during the time of Russia’s aggression against Georgia. The Heads of five countries expressed support to Georgia.
