There’s no unanimous answer to this question. The optimists like the Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, claim that during those 20 years the achievements were bigger than during any other 20 years of the millennium of Lithuania’s existence. The kasandras of today, like the PR specialist Rūta Vanagaitė claim that there’re almost no achievements – that state is governed by “trough” party, Russia’s influence is menacingly increasing. There’re more

kasandras than optimists, and the snappy talk of the former are more memorable and draw more attention. However, the analysis of kasandras does not reflect the reality, it more reveals their psychological condition than Lithuania’s political and economical situation.

Of course, the majority is bothered by the frequent reminders, that by getting into the European Union (EU) an NATO, Lithuania twice passed the exam, that she is a normal and prosperous state. Also – that it is universally accepted that Lithuania, as well as Latvia and Estonia, are the

only Post-Soviet countries that managed to establish a stable democratic system. Are those achievements insignificant?

Recently I read somewhere that Lithuania is safer, its citizens live better life than ever before. It’s necessary to approve to this statement, despite of the constant apprehensions concerning Russia’s designs and economic crisis. I do not understand why the fear towards Russia is so big. It is experiencing a double demographic crisis. The size of population and birth rates are intensely decreasing. And the non-Russian inhabitants, that do not have special reasons to love Russia, compose bigger and bigger part of the population.

The military power of Kremlin is falling into decline even quicker. Russia’s plans to buy from France the “Mistral” military ship, caused a huge agiotage, however, the main thing, namely the fact, that Russia’s military industry is so withered away, that it cannot itself produce this kind of ship, as well as robot planes that the Kremlin buys from Israel, remained unnoticed. The unsuccessful experimentation of the new intercontinental ballistic missile “Bulav” also indicates the decline of the military power.

Russia is an unpleasant neighbour and will remain such. However, it does not menace the NATO members, such as Lithuania. The claims, expressed in the doctrine of the President Dmitry Medvedev to have “privileged interests in certain regions” is becoming more futile every year, and give more consolation to the authorities of Kremlin that are a real threat to the neighbours.

Russia’s cultural influence is also overestimated. Maybe children still swear in Russian and listen to Russian songs. However, the majority of them speak poor, if any, Russian, and do not dream to go to work or study in Russia. For them Russia is a strange country.  It’s kind of immoral to speak about economic achievements, when unemployment is raging, the living wages of the majority of people is declining, and the reorganization of “Sodra” is planned.

However, in order to assure oneself, it’s enough to have a look at car and bus parking places, at cafes and magazines, especially at women’s footwear, mobile phones and computers and to remember, how Lithuania looked like 20 years ago. The crisis left its imprints, however, signs that the economy is recovering, the budget deficit is manageable, the business is adapting to the new, more complex situation, are visible. International media is not writing any more about the likely devaluation of the Litas [Lithuanian national currency] or application to

International Monetary Fund, because the menace is away.  There’re a lot of defects, however, progress is obvious and indisputable.  Social inequality is screaming out, however, during Soviet times, the mere mortals were not invited to the saunas of the authorities of the party as well; they did not receive trips to the foreign countries. The retirement age is increased; however, Russia will not avoid this as well. We will not come up with the Western Europe quickly; however, it’s possible to live decently without doing this as well. Every year various international and non-governmental organizations, i.e. World Bank, “World Economic Forum”,

“Transparency International”, “Freedom House” announce annual reports on the level of democracy, economic competitive abilities, condition for business, respect for press and human rights, life quality, social development, etc.

Already for some time Lithuanian is considered as more progressive and developed country than the three-fourths countries of the world almost in all areas. When the new EU members are assessed, Lithuania is not a high achiever, but is not a straggler as well. There’re reasons to be proud of.

How it is then possible to explain the fact that in Lithuanian media articles about Lithuania’s failures, flaws, gloomy present and even blacker future are glimmering? Two things are meaningful here. Lithuanians are pessimists, maybe complainers, attracted by gloomy predictions. Is it possible to say something positive? This is obviously contrasting with

Estonians and especially Americans, who annoyingly hard believe in the advantage of their own country and are announcing this to everybody. The second thing is the lack of an outlook. We know the disadvantages too well and are pay too much attention to them. One cannot estimate woman’s beauty properly, if he looks at it through telescope or microscope. Lithuanian media, analysts and political scientists often behave as if the microscope, directed towards the scandal is the most proper instrument that could help to reveal the beauty of the landscape.

Even though Lithuanians have never had such a secure and prosperous life, I cannot approve of the claim of Andrius Kubilius that during the latter twenty years it was achieved more than during any other 20 years of the millennium of Lithuania’s existence.

The fact that we are living better than earlier does not mean that we did more than the previous generations. The unquestioned present achievements are not only our merit. The international conjuncture was highly favourable.

Friendly-minded NATO ensures Lithuania’s security, Lithuanian economy is already developed, and EU was sustaining further economic growth.

The situation between 1919 and 1939 was more complicated. Then Lithuania was surrounded by enemies, international organizations were not providing economic support. It was necessary to create a completely new state, new education system, reorganize economy, to implement the reform of agriculture, to transform Lithuanian ethnic group into a politically conscious, modern nation. It was a lot of various flaws, democracy was buried promptly, however, love for one’s own country and nation was implanted, and it was so strong that it did not flag during long years of occupation. During those 20 years it was achieved more. We can acknowledge this, without devaluating the present achievements.

*Translated by Milda Bagdonaitė*

The article was published in Alfa.lt on 15 March