I represent a perestroika generation whose inspiration and dream of an independent Lithuanian came true in 1990. Few years later I left my homeland to spend almost a decade in the UK, starting in London and finishing in Edinburgh with a Master in History from the University of Edinburgh. I returned to Lithuania five years ago to discover a ‘different country’ and witnessed another dream coming true. Lithuania was admitted to the Euroatlantic community. The historical justice was restored.

Eighteen years ago in 1990, March 11, Lithuanian Supreme Soviet declared restoration of independence of Lithuania.  During one of meetings historian Prof Bumbliauskas rhetorically observed that for some foreigners it might be confusing the share amount of the National days we celebrate.

One of the reasons for that is simple: we lost our Independence rather few times in the past.  But the historian noticed that even though July 6th (the Coronation of our King Mindaugas in 1253), or foundation of the first republic in February 16 in 1918, were crucial for our nation, those dates were not that too important in the context of the history of the World.  However, in Prof Bumbliauskas opinion 1990 March 11 had played an important role in the world’s history.

The Polish and the Czech input in ‘breaking the Eastern block’ is unquestionable.  The Estonians had begun the National movement before the Lithuanians did.  However, the Lithuanians started process of the USSR’s disintegration in March 11, 1990.  The Russian Democrats looked up at Lithuania as an example, especially in the events during the August Putsch in Moscow.

The Lithuanians tend to be too pessimistic and critical of Lithuania.  However, the Yale Professor Tomas Venclova is much more optimistic.  He declared that despite internal problems those last 18 years should be regarded as the most successful period in Lithuania’s 1.000 years history.  In this short time we managed to become full fledged members of the Western club.

Just few numbers – in 1990 the Lithuanian GDP was 153 mln Litas, or 36 Litas per person.  1 USD was 4 Litas in 1990.  Lithuanian GDP in 2007 was 27.257,1 mln Litas or 28.661 Litas per person.  1 USD is 2.24 LTL today.  Well, it is success.

Gorbachev was warning Lithuanians that if we will separate from the USSR we will die from hunger, since we don’t have any mineral recourses.  Well, he was right about the mineral resources, however, he forgot about the other resource - the people.

Give it another 18 years of Independence and if Lithuania will be allowed to develop without major interactions from our Eastern neighbour we will achieve the average EU GDP and will be heading to catch up with Scandinavia!  Just watch! 

 Ruslanas Iržikevičius - Lituanica
Vilnius, Lithuania

 I represent a perestroika generation whose inspiration and dream of an independent Lithuanian came true in 1990.  Few years later I left my homeland to spend almost a decade in the UK, starting in London and finishing in Edinburgh with a Master in History from the University of Edinburgh.  I returned to Lithuania five years ago to discover a ‘different country’ and witnessed another dream coming true.  Lithuania was admitted to the Euroatlantic community.  The historical justice was restored.

Hence, I feel privileged having spent my childhood and teens in the Soviet Union, which evolved from Brezhnev’s stagnation to Gorbachev’s perestroika resulting in the total collapse of the USSR.  I feel privileged living through the moments when the history was in ‘making’ and to some extent taking my part in making this happening. Then witnessing the first steps of the democracy-building later leaving the country to form as a person in the oldest democracy in the world, getting educated there and return to a totally different motherland.

We are happy to welcome Ruslanas who joined Newropeans-Magazine contributors team. Visit his blog Lituanica.

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