Tweet
LITHUANIA'S ADAMKUS URGES TO SOLVE 'FROZEN CONFLICTS' IN EASTERN EUROPE
Delfi website, Vilnius
3 May 06
[Unatributted report: "Lithuanian President Urges To Solve 'Frozen
Conflicts,' Which Hinder Democratic Changes"]
President Valdas Adamkus thinks that one of the biggest hardships
for countries that have chosen the path of democratic reforms is
'frozen conflicts.'
"'Frozen' conflicts are obvious threats, which raise fear and impede
economic development in entire regions. It is necessary to find fast
and peaceful solutions to those conflicts, because the union of law and
democracy cannot coexist with conflicts and isolation," Adamkus said
in his greeting to participants of the Forum of Intellectuals at the
Vilnius Conference, called Common Vision for a Common Neighbourhood.
According to the president, 'frozen conflicts' also impede cooperation
of activities in the region.
"It is hard to imagine that democracy would be established in regions
where there is no cooperation of institutions or if they lack the
essence of cooperation. The engine behind European and transatlantic
cooperation should be cooperation, not competition," the Lithuanian
head of state noted.
According to him, this was proven by the experience of the Vilnius
10, which, in 2000, united the efforts of new European democracies
to join Euro-Atlantic institutions. Adamkus said that today all of
those countries are firmly determined to support the development of
regional cooperation and the 'open door' policy.
The president also stressed the necessity of raising the goals and
values of the state above narrow pragmatic interests.
"Today I would like to wish the countries that are striving for
European and transatlantic integration: set your domestic and foreign
policy goals and secure support of the majority for those goals,"
Adamkus noted.
After noting that today the Eastern Europe seems determined to be
integrated into European and transatlantic institutions, Adamkus said
that at the same time he saw "wavering, looking back, and attempts
to look for the alleged 'third way,' whatever that third way might be."
"In the European Union we also hear voices talking about the alleged
'burnout of expansion.' Those voices see Europe as a fortress or a
closed club," the Lithuanian head of state noted.
However, he said he did not think that it was necessary to concentrate
on these questions, because European cooperation in the future would
be cooperation between democracies trying to expand freedom to move,
to trade, and to exchange ideas.
The president said that globalization did not leave the option of
living in seclusion, and it would find ways of punishing those that
would decide to build walls against democracy. According to Adamkus,
non-democratic states would be forced to face globalization challenges
alone.
After admitting that sometimes it is difficult to balance interests
with values (although it was necessary to make sure that they were not
contradicting one another), Adamkus said that today it was necessary to
agree on an ambitious agenda - the East European neighbourhood vision.
"Vision that would obligate us to create united and free Europe,
which would be united by economic integration and common values. I
believe that your determination, good will, and effort will help us
achieve that," Adamkus said, in addressing intellectuals.
Representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,
the United States, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, and
Ukraine are participating in the Intellectuals Forum, which is being
held in Vilnius on Wednesday. They are discussing democratic changes
of recent years and their future prospects in the Eastern Europe.
Delfi website, Vilnius
3 May 06
[Unatributted report: "Lithuanian President Urges To Solve 'Frozen
Conflicts,' Which Hinder Democratic Changes"]
President Valdas Adamkus thinks that one of the biggest hardships
for countries that have chosen the path of democratic reforms is
'frozen conflicts.'
"'Frozen' conflicts are obvious threats, which raise fear and impede
economic development in entire regions. It is necessary to find fast
and peaceful solutions to those conflicts, because the union of law and
democracy cannot coexist with conflicts and isolation," Adamkus said
in his greeting to participants of the Forum of Intellectuals at the
Vilnius Conference, called Common Vision for a Common Neighbourhood.
According to the president, 'frozen conflicts' also impede cooperation
of activities in the region.
"It is hard to imagine that democracy would be established in regions
where there is no cooperation of institutions or if they lack the
essence of cooperation. The engine behind European and transatlantic
cooperation should be cooperation, not competition," the Lithuanian
head of state noted.
According to him, this was proven by the experience of the Vilnius
10, which, in 2000, united the efforts of new European democracies
to join Euro-Atlantic institutions. Adamkus said that today all of
those countries are firmly determined to support the development of
regional cooperation and the 'open door' policy.
The president also stressed the necessity of raising the goals and
values of the state above narrow pragmatic interests.
"Today I would like to wish the countries that are striving for
European and transatlantic integration: set your domestic and foreign
policy goals and secure support of the majority for those goals,"
Adamkus noted.
After noting that today the Eastern Europe seems determined to be
integrated into European and transatlantic institutions, Adamkus said
that at the same time he saw "wavering, looking back, and attempts
to look for the alleged 'third way,' whatever that third way might be."
"In the European Union we also hear voices talking about the alleged
'burnout of expansion.' Those voices see Europe as a fortress or a
closed club," the Lithuanian head of state noted.
However, he said he did not think that it was necessary to concentrate
on these questions, because European cooperation in the future would
be cooperation between democracies trying to expand freedom to move,
to trade, and to exchange ideas.
The president said that globalization did not leave the option of
living in seclusion, and it would find ways of punishing those that
would decide to build walls against democracy. According to Adamkus,
non-democratic states would be forced to face globalization challenges
alone.
After admitting that sometimes it is difficult to balance interests
with values (although it was necessary to make sure that they were not
contradicting one another), Adamkus said that today it was necessary to
agree on an ambitious agenda - the East European neighbourhood vision.
"Vision that would obligate us to create united and free Europe,
which would be united by economic integration and common values. I
believe that your determination, good will, and effort will help us
achieve that," Adamkus said, in addressing intellectuals.
Representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,
the United States, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, and
Ukraine are participating in the Intellectuals Forum, which is being
held in Vilnius on Wednesday. They are discussing democratic changes
of recent years and their future prospects in the Eastern Europe.