Inaugural Address by H. E. Valdas Adamkus, the President of the Republic of Lithuania

Just like a sovereign, a nation is always right in choosing its lot. Eight decades ago, Vilnius witnessed the manifestation of the centuries-nurtured nation’s aspiration when the most determined statesmen of Lithuania proclaimed the independent State of Lithuania.

Eight years ago their successors repeated their deed under extremely difficult conditions. I would like to express my gratitude to all and to every who, guided by the call of their souls, having suffered through numerous spiritual and physical tortures and having sacrificed their lives, paved the way for new life in Lithuania.

From this honourable podium I would like to express my gratitude to those who can no longer hear us - in the aftermath of the war they lost their lives in the name of our freedom. I would like to express my gratitude to those who worked hard, who brought up children and who cherished the spirit of freedom and independence here, in Lithuania, or severed from it.

There are two personalities in this distinguished audience to whom I would like to express my particular gratitude. They are Mr. Vytautas Landsbergis, Chairman of the Supreme Council - the Reconstituent Seimas - that proclaimed the Declaration of the Restitution of the Lithuanian State, who was Head of State de facto when the reborn nation threw off the yoke of occupation, and H. E. President Algirdas Brazauskas of the Republic of Lithuania who throughout the five years by his endeavours and aspirations was the guarantor of the Constitution of Lithuania. Thank you!

Dear people of Lithuania,
My fellow citizens,

Having sworn to serve to the Nation and the Homeland, I cannot but recall the feelings from my numerous meetings with you. It was during them that I realized that the might of an individual or even the powers of the President are not sufficient to accomplish a miracle based solely on the belief in a better, more just future that us all sincerely aspire to.

Lithuania has undergone many a change in a particularly short period. In its search for the right path, Lithuania was driven from one extreme to the other which often resulted in antagonism. Such was the past, but the future must be different. Lithuania should enter the new millennium prepared for full-blooded life.

It can be achieved only through concord and joint efforts aimed at a single goal. Such concord implies political and person-to-person agreements, the key objective and the criterion of which is democracy, improvement of well-being of the people and secure existence of the country.

Expectations of the people expressed during the presidential elections have demonstrated that the institution of the President enjoys the highest confidence of citizens and has their mandate. I shall therefore seek to become the President of all the people of Lithuania rather than a symbolic head of state or state representative. I shall try to participate in all domains wherein the State and society act and strongly hope for your support.

Lithuania is entering the new millennium and the world of new ideas. The age of information and changes in global economy require us to choose rational behaviour and to establish priorities which provide for pooling human and material resources and preparing to meet new challenges and requirements.

Therefore the Seimas elected by our citizens, and the Government should become a think tank and provide for the implementation of generated ideas. However, on too many occasions, public institutions are considered to be either the only answerable, or the one to blame. The primary and common duty of us all, assembled here today, is to consolidate people’s confidence in their state and its institutions.

It is my hope that the Seimas, the Government and the President will do their utmost, so the people feel sure of their future and possibility to realize their freedoms and rights enshrined in the Constitution. I consider joint work with the Seimas and the Government to be the primary duty of the President. By my personal example, high standards and through legislative initiative I shall seek to become a mediator between the State and its citizens.

This work should be undertaken without procrastination. Decisive reform of public administration institutions could be an appropriate way of achieving these goals. I maintain that the establishment of the optimum, smaller than today, number of ministries would improve their performance and co-ordination of functions, and would reduce administration expenses.

Officials should be appointed, having co-ordinated the interests of political parties and having considered their authority in society. Furthermore, their professional qualifications and honesty at work should not give rise to doubts.

I am convinced that the progress in our life can be achieved only through fostering and establishing the standard of morality, pursuant to which one is answerable for his words and actions to both himself and others.

Enhancement of the power of influence exercised by the individual through decentralization of state power and strengthening of self-government is an irrefutable means. Society must have access to information on the performance of the decisions made by officials and public and municipal institutions.

Transparency, respect and tolerance are the means providing for society’s self-cognition, self-perception and self-realization. It is the duty of public institutions to create legal and technical conditions for it.

Dear fellow citizens,

It is my belief that you view the policies of today as nothing else but the means for finding the ways and ensuring actual improvement of daily life. The Nation who survived into the present day and preserved its creativity despite tremendous sufferings deserves to enjoy the fruits of this improvement today instead of in some distant future.

For that reason we should agree on the country’s priorities in the near future and on the route leading within the shortest time to the envisaged prosperity.

By the mandate of confidence granted to me, I propose the following priorities of state policy:

• finance administration,
• development of education, science and culture,
• improvement of health care,
• search for new markets for Lithuanian goods,
• strengthening of the fight against crime.

While defending defending these priorities, I intend to act within the limits of the powers established by the Constitution. I am convinced that these principles do not contradict the programme of the Government, approved by the Seimas. I shall therefore consider it my direct duty to orient the efforts of the Seimas and the Government towards the realization of these priorities.

I shall support the efforts of the Seimas and the Government to develop liberalized economy based on private property, private initiative and personal responsibility, as well as the efforts to better the legal and economic framework of the free market.

Only active man has dignity and wants to manage properly his own as well as society’s property; only such man can be the guarantor of the preservation of moral values. The duty of the state is to create favourable conditions for honest work and fair remuneration, and to promote the creation of new jobs since by this way only it is possible to ease the burden of social expenditures. This issue is of particular importance in agriculture, as agricultural reform has not produced the expected results.

However, Lithuania will neither gain wealth nor will become a more European-like, unless it establishes a secure environment for itself and those who wish to invest in it. For the time being, citizens have no confidence in courts, the police and even the legislators.

The system of law enforcement should be reorganized in the way which would make every citizen realize that any person, regardless of his social standing, shall not escape punishment for committed crime. Prevention of crime, particularly among the youngsters, is a leverage in not only fighting the consequences, but also in eliminating the causes of crime. Therefore, strengthening of education system is a key task of our State.

By joint efforts, we - politicians and businessmen, parents and teachers - can raise the prestige of the teacher and the school through the investment into the youth and thus into the future of our country.

Dear compatriots,

By the presidential responsibility for foreign policy enshrined in the Constitution, I would like to declare officially my commitment to the furtherance of the policy designed to strengthen the independence of the State of Lithuania, Based on the aspiration to the security of its people. I pledge to continue to promote friendly relations based on mutual respect and understanding with all, particularly with neighbouring countries, as well as to develop international initiatives ensuring peace, democracy and human rights in the world. While seeking to implement its goals and to protect its interests, Lithuania is prepared to further pursue a transparent and dynamic foreign policy.

The key objectives of Lithuania’s foreign policy is membership of NATO and the European Union within the soonest time possible. I shall work towards better understanding of the significance of this integration among the people of Lithuania. I shall do my utmost for Lithuania to become a full-fledged member of the European and Euro-Atlantic community during my term of office. In the striving for NATO membership, I shall attach particular importance to the practical preparation for future membership and to the development of Lithuania’s defence forces.

However, we should always remember that a nation and man are alive as long as they have their roots, as long as they can fall back on centuries-old wisdom and culture. Let us cherish our historical memory and make every step with resposibility, having assessed of our capacities and aspirations.

Dear compatriots,

The road of Lithuania - the road of the Nation and its state - wanders through centuries. Our achievements, hardships and expectations are just a tiny part of this road. Yet we, the Lithuanians, are one nation and work to the benefit of Lithuania wherever we may be.

Having become the President of the Republic of Lithuania by your will, today I assume the powers vested in the Head of State by the Constitution. I call on every and on all to spare no effort to make trust and hope, work and justice our guiding star while advancing along this difficult yet significant road.

So help us God.