For the inhabitants of Berlin the Berlin Wall was a thing, stonework, but indeed this wall was a significant historical metaphor.

This wall was crossing not only Berlin, but also the whole Europe. It was separating the independent Western nations from the subjugated people of the East. Those, who were straining at the leash through the wall, had to pay by their blood. Those, who were trying to thrust to the other side through the other walls, had to suffer for years in gulags. And Germany got united in freedom and not in capitalism as it is sometimes claimed.

This line was drawn earlier than it appeared in Berlin. Stalin drew it in September 1939, who, by undersigning this act, certified, that this was his property.

Later on this line was corrected and pushed towards the West; however, corrections were done not for all the parts of the line. The strategic areas of Central Europe and nations living there were assigned to Stalin. After five years the Western democracies confirmed the line of Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (MRP) in Yalta and Potsdam, and thus the Baltic States were given to the Stalin’s empire.

It seems that in this way the great leaders of the United Kingdom and the United States of America did homage to Joachim von Ribbentrop (this could be truth as Ribbentrop was hanged also for totally different crimes).

Moscow remained grateful and still respects J.von Ribbentrop, saying, that the Baltic States were a legitimate part of the Soviet Union. When Russia was trying to prevent our membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO, it was for a long time resting upon on these two arguments: the will of Stalin and Hitler, expressed in 1939-1941 and concrete wall in Kremlin. It was easier to destroy the wall though.

For this reason I am talking about the Berlin Wall as a symbol and metaphor. In the heads of some politicians this wall still exists, it exists at least as their dream. We just must to talk about this.

This is important; as for us MRP dividing line didn’t cease to exist even after 2004, when we joined the EU and NATO.

If the Russian military fleet will safeguard the ”Gazprom” pipe, which started respective exercises this autumn, a new Moscow-Berlin wall can arise again and it would range from Vyborg to Greifswald.

Thus the three Baltic States will be again left on Moscow side and the neutral maritime zones with the economic zones will be *de facto* annexed, Berlin will enjoy the new pact and benefits, and in Finland and Denmark we will see extra “ribbentrops” – those who agreed on the rise of this wall.

Poland expresses disagreement, Sweden capitulated after long considerations.

It is possible to add some “ancient wisdom”: those nations, who support the enslavement of other nations, are not free themselves.

Finland, who agrees that her ethnic brothers Estonians will be poisoned by the poisonous sediments from the bottom of the bay, is not free.

Germany and Denmark, as well as Sweden, who agree that the Balts will be left on the other side of the annexed waters on the Russian side, are not free.

Even the remote Spain, who is the only one state that currently blocks the simplified visa regime for the citizens of Georgia and thus is making Moscow happy, is not free.

Maybe France is also getting not free as now she is on the way to sell to Russia a modern air carrier, which will alleviate the future military operations, in the Black sea is getting not free.

Recently I’ve heard these words of Vaclav Havel: “Politics that appreciates the economic benefit and cheaper gas more than moral values is not only amoral, it is self-destructive”.

We don’t want suicidal Germany as well as suicidal Europe. We will support life; we will support the “pro-life” idea in all the senses. However, in Lithuania we can still observe the lack of understanding that life is stemming from soul and love.

Vilnius University, November the 5th, 2009

*Translated by Milda Bagdonaitė*

Alfa.lt, Lietuvos žinios