Yet again, a very interesting and unfortunately a very accurate depiction of the situation in Lithuania. I have had the exact same experiences that you had mentioned. I remember first coming to Lithuania about 10 years ago and the Lithuania then, is definitely not the Lithuania now!

I remember when it was relatively safe to walk in almost any corner of Lithuania, without the fear that I had, in my own country (South Africa). However, on our recent visits, I was advised not to stroll around as freely as I did previously. To the extent, of being escorted wherever I went. I also recognised the development in the major cities and the degradation on the outskirts and villages. How could this happen in a country, where there was once so much of national pride!

I genuinely miss the days of looking at Lithuania, as my second home country, in a very fond light. My wife and children are Lithuania citizens and I would love for my wife and children to continue to be proud Lithuanians! I also want them to have the same romantic view I have had of Lithuania!

Our family and friends in Lithuania are off the same mind set as your dear friend. Where the country has gained internationally, from being included in the EU and NATO, it has lost domestically, by allowing its' people to lose faith. In almost every conversation I have encountered, the central topic was around corruption. This corruption ranges from low level public sector workers to the upper echelons of government.

My view is that the people have THE VOICE! However, when I mentioned this approach to people, I was almost laughed at!

The issue is that the nature of most of the people I have encountered is that the best approach, is to accept the situation as it is. No amount effort on my part could convince them, that they are empowered to take action.
For example: There is a prevalence of bribery in most state departments, especially when it comes to applications or documents, etc. In most cases, a time frame is indicated within which you should receive the

information, however, the norm is that if you bribe the person, only then would you get the information with that timeframe. Failure to bribe, will result in "delays". Now, my approach, is that a person should say NO to anyone who suggests or tries to extract a bribe. My family's view is that it has now become the norm and it is expected for you in some cases to offer the bribe!

I was very irritated by that revelation and expressed a situation to them, which I was hoping would change their perspective.

As you are aware, I am a South African, and I will relate an experience where I realised that sometimes, escalating an issue does resolve the matter. I was experiencing issues with getting a visa to visit Lithuania, despite having visited the country on numerous occasions prior to that. I was met with comments and replies which made no sense and was not complimentary to the visa issuing policies. When I highlighted this to the consular officer, I was met with an irrelevant reply, which intended to insult my appreciation of the English language. I decided to voice my irritation of the situation via an online forum which I found on the Office of the Presidents' website. I did this without any expectation. Much to my delight, I received a reply within 24 hours! The office of the President, accepted that my treatment was unfair and forwarded my details to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within an hour of that initial mail, I received a mail from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting all my details as well as the details of the consulate and consular officer. Within that same day, I received another mail from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and they had given me assurance that my visa application will be handled in the proper manner and will be issued within the timeframe, described in their visa issuing policy! Needless to state, when I presented myself at the consulate for the collection of my visa, I was met with a very apologetic consular officer as well as having my visa issued more sooner than I had expected. So, it does help to escalate and it does not go unattended!

The response from my family was that this was only done because I was a foreigner. They believe that if they had to do the same, that they would be ridiculed! I respectfully disagreed!

I believe that the way out of this proverbial 'hole' that is being dug, is to empower the people, with forums or support groups, independent of any attachment to government, which will ensure that the faith and trust that should exist, and be available, are there and is being used for what it is intended!
I am willing to lend whatever support I can, to form a lobby group, or to join an existing lobby group, to get a forum in place to address these issues with government in a diplomatic environment, expressing the concerns that we as foreigners (by Nationality only, as I see Lithuania as my second Home country) have!

I think that every single Lithuanian, should remember these names below and the cause that they sacrificed their lives for on January 13, 1991!

Loreta Asanavičiūtė, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavičius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevičius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevičius, Vidas Maciulevičius, Titas Masiulis, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Šimulionis, Vytautas Vaitkus

Let not let THEIR sacrifice be in vain!

Come on Lithuania! Be proud! Remember Baltijos kelias! Anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into it! Democracy does prevail!

Eugene Rangayah
South Africa and United Kingdom