Vilius Kavaliauskas,well-known Lithuanian political scientist, shares his view on interrelation of national minorities in Lithuania.

Vilius Kavaliauskas is well-known not only in the Lithuanian journalistic circles. In recent times – known Soviet journalist, the correspondent of "The Moscow News " and APN in USA, nowadays - one of the heads of the Union of journalists of Lithuania, the political scientist. In his album there are a lot of the photos telling about meetings with outstanding statesmen of the different countries and even with Pope John Paul II. My interlocutor has visited many countries; he has seen much and can compare how it is both "here" and "there". Furthermore, "The Lithuanian Courier" was also interested in what he thinks of problems of the national minorities.

Do you think the government is on friendly terms with the national minorities or there are some problems?

Generally speaking, it is process, which cannot have borders or some kind of end. But to my mind, our government can be proud of that document which we have accepted at the beginning of independence - the law on citizenship. I always speak about it when I read lectures to Germans, to Americans and meet with the foreign political scientists.

The law is good, of course, but the citizenship is not the most important thing in life. Is everything really so well?

It is always possible to find means to perfect these relations. But I think we do not fully use up the cultural potential of other nations that live in Lithuania and that our support is very little. And you see this is our wealth!

For instance, I can’t remember seeing a memorial plaque on the house where the outstanding violinist Jasha Heifetc lived. So one may think this person is less known here in Lithuania than in the world. To tell the truth, this may be explained by the fact that the Lithuanians lead a secluded life. We can value our intellectual and cultural wealth, but not propagate it. Here is one more example. Perhaps we can hardly find more impressive artist than Chiurlionis, an outstanding artist and composer. Burt we do not show him anyone. The roof of his museum lets water, so it is also to be closed. Well, if seriously, I remember, that 15 years ago when in Florence the world exhibition of modernist art was organized and professor Kazimeras Varnialis asked the museums to give even if one picture for this exhibition, they refused his request.

It is very important to understand what is happening: interference of cultures or absorption of one another? According to your examples, it is possible to speak about mutual enrichment. But you were talking about the outstanding figures, and what about us, "mere mortals"? What are the relations between indigenes and national minorities?

To my mind, relations are normal. Now there is faster integration. Such is the reality. The Government finances the secondary schools in which it is taught in the languages national minorities, but there is no such opportunity for universities and for other high schools. And I think there is no trouble if the children from the Russian or the Polish families attend the Lithuanian schools. But the Russian language still has not only the residential, but cultural meaning, too.

Do you appreciate the Russian language?

You see, we were strong in Russian, and we were strong just because of it. And now we are losing this force. It is bad. Nobody refused the concepts in which Lithuania is proclaimed as the country of transit between the East and the West. Our businessmen knew not only the language, but also mentality of east partners, economic conditions in the region. One day we have blocked this bridge and now we are losing much not only in economy. The stream of salutary ideas has sharply decreased. With nostalgia I watch the Russian TV channels - they are very strong. Not so long ago in Moscow I have met Eldar Riazanov and for half an hour I was praising one of his programs in which together with Daniel Olbryhskij he walked over Paris and discussed on the East Europe intellectual’s place in the modern world. We don’t have any programs of such kind and we become very provincial. Losing knowledge of Russian, we lose the access to Russian philosophy, to Dostoevskij, to the treasures of world culture.

Naming outstanding artists - natives of Lithuania, you have mentioned the names. And you see, it is known, that nevertheless between Jews and Lithuanians there is the certain intensity connected with the tragic events of past war. How you concern to this problem?

In Paris I have visited the spiritual center Pompidou and there I have seen the works of Jacque Lipshitsa. I saw the picture Modiljani - portrait of Lipshitsa. There is his obelisk in New York. There is the big sculpture "Authority of people” in the center of Philadelphia, the author of which is Jacque Lipshits. Jewish people absorbed spiritual riches of Lithuania and simultaneously enriched its culture. In the pictures of Haim Sutin Jews of Lithuania are portrayed, not of other countries. There was a big Jewish community here. And still, despite of the tragedy, which was having place during the war, I don’t think this intensity should be kept. I think, that there can’t be collective responsibility, collective fault of Lithuanian people before Jewish. There is a historical problem, which we should studied and examine in a context of today.

Once I had to rummage in the archive of Gesapo, which was in Vilnius. And there I have found the document (unfortunately it was impossible to make copies) that forbade the Germans to participate in extirpation of Jews. There was a direction saying local residents to do it. It was a crime of Nazis to which criminals from our people were also involved.

You have visited many countries. Where to your mind the relation between the state and national minorities are constructed in the best way?

In Finland, perhaps. There kind relations between Swedes and Finns formed historically. One Finn has even complained to me, that he is forced to learn the Swedish language, as one of state languages, though in percentage terms not many Swedes live in Finland. In the countries of the Benelux – Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg – relations are also perfectly adjusted.

The Lithuanian citizenship of Maya Plisetskaja and Rodion Schedrin also show that we are in the right direction. They are proud of these passports. My neighbor - Timofej Dokshitser, the outstanding Russian musician, the former soloist of the Great theatre. He has chosen Lithuania as the second native land. I’m sure, that the republic is an example if not for Europe, then for our region.

I do not think, that many figures of the Polish community of Lithuania will share your certitude. A certain intention connected both with the cultural pressure and with unwillingness of authorities to allow application of the Polish language as official exists in Vilnius land, too. There are also problems of returning of the property. Do you agree?

We have politised the relations with the Polish national minorities by ourselves. Problems, which concern national minorities demand delicacy, flexibility. It seems to me, life will put everuthing in places and this pressure will disappear with time...