President of Poland Lech Kaczynski on a visit to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė in April 2010, just a few days before his tragic death

The below letter was signed by:
Antanas Gailius; Dr. Irena Vaišvilaitė; Prof. Alvydas Jokubaitis; Dr. Paulius V. Subačius; Prof. Danutė Gailienė; Rev. Julius Sasnauskas OFM; Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas

The letter was written in Polish, translated to English by Lithuanian MP Mantas Adomenas

“It is with burning concern and sorrow that we observe in Lithuania the daily destruction and disdain of the seeds of the European Christian civilisation: the virtues of wisdom and tolerance, humility and the love to one’s neighbour. Several years ago, it would have been hardly credible that unsound conspiracy theories, ill-founded or even deliberately misleading and mischievous statements that are abundant today with reference to the relations between Lithuanians and Poles could become the focus of state politics and a determining factor in the bilateral relations.
We are alarmed by the growing radicalisation and polarisation of society, as well as by the manifestations of pseudo-patriotism, such as witnessed during the 11 March procession. The chauvinist version of history which considers the shared history of Lithuania and Poland as the ‘lost centuries’ distorts the vision of the past, rejects and smears the common spiritual, political, and cultural heritage of the two nations – from the Battle of Grunwald to the Constitution of the 3rd of May, from Our Lady at the Gate of Dawn to the joint struggle against the enemy of the two nations, both in 1863 and in 1989.
We embarked on the 21st century having overcome, it seemed, the quarrels of the past and having preserved the brotherhood of the two Christian freedom-loving nations. Now we must put every effort in order to safeguard this peace and unity. Our common faith obliges us to seek peace. Therefore, more than ever should we recall the words of the Apostle who said that “there is neither Jew nor Greek” in the eyes of the Church and faith. Lithuanian citizens of the Polish origin who consider themselves Poles constitute an integral part of the Lithuanian society and the state.
We lived, we live, and we will continue to live together with them. Radicalism will not help us find a common ground or jointly build our common state. On the contrary, it promotes distrust and hostility and prevents the possibility of peace. We invite everyone to surmount political discord, extinguish the fire of polarisation that is often fuelled by short-lived political ambitions, and seek agreement with the Lithuanian Poles as our fellow citizens who, like everyone else, want to live their lives and build their future, as well as that of their children, in peace and harmony on this soil.
Our ability to live with Poles in concord demonstrates our maturity and Europeanism. Being the larger community we are obliged to offer our hand first and to start the process of reconciliation, which will not be easy and will require much effort. The approaching holiday of the Resurrection urges us to seek concord, for how will we be able to celebrate Easter without having reconciled us with our neighbours?”

Vilnius, 10 April 2011

Read more at:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2011/04/poland_and_lithuania_rare_bit_good_sense