Thursday, December 12, 2019
Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals. Some chanted “God, honour, homeland!” and “No to the European Union!” and waved red-and-white Polish flags. Others lit red flares, blanketing sections of the parade with smoke. “We have to return to our roots. Our…
The Latvian Chapter of Orders has decided to bestow the highest state award, the Order of the Three Stars, on 31 recipients, including heads of several institutions, judges, medics, scientists, public figures and artists, according to an announcement published in the official gazette Latvijas Vestnesis. Auditor General Elita Krumina, who is among the recipients of the decoration, will be made Grand Officer of the Order. On November 18, 2019, marking…
Quim Torra’s allies say it’s not the time to set ‘deadline’ for new referendum. Catalonia’s regional president called on Thursday for a new vote on independence from Spain as protests continue over the conviction of separatist leaders for staging the last referendum. In a speech to the Catalan parliament, Quim Torra condemned the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision to jail former regional government officials for their role in an October 2017 independence referendum…
Lithuania’s Auditor General Arūnas Dulkys said there’s a growing threat to the independence of the National Audit Office which could lead to EU financial sanctions. The law, adopted earlier this year and stipulating that staff for the National Audit Office are selected by the Civil Service Department, undermines the Office’s independence, Dulkys said on Thursday after meeting the Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. “I feel like being under siege since January.…
Wen Wei Po, a state-owned Chinese newspaper in Hong Kong, published an article mocking the independence of the three Baltic states, Estonian daily newspaper Postimees reported. According to ERR News, the article also stated that instead of anticipated success, the countries were left in squalor and suffer corrupt politicians, ridiculous wages and inter-ethnic conflicts. The article was published on August 24, a day after protesters in Hong Kong organized a human…
In 1991 the Baltic States gained independence. They started to develop their new way. This choice was highly appreciated by the residents of the Baltic countries, as well as by people all over the world. People craved independence then, and they still crave it now. They understand independence as “freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.” Today some political decisions reduce the significance of achieved…
President Kersti Kaljulaid addressed Sunday’s Victory Day parade, noting the scope everyone in Estonian society has in contributing to the country’s sense of security. “We are also preparing our defense forces and defense league for situations that are unlikely, but still possible,” Kersti Kaljulaid said in her speech at the parade in Tartu, according to a press release from the president’s office. “Similarly, we might all be prepared for other…
Copies of student files of Antanas Smetona, Jonas Vileisis, Steponas Kairys and other signatories of Lithuania’s 1918 declaration of independence, and of documents of other public and religious figures have been found in Russian archives and brought to Lithuania, Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) said. Copies of historical documents of signatories, diplomats and clergymen have been brought to the Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania by two doctoral students at…
Ceremonies, speeches and thoughts on the nature of freedom were the order of the day across Latvia May 4 with the country marking the restoration of independence 29 years ago. The main event of the day was a military parade in the town of Jekabpils but other events of all types and sizes are equally meaningful as older people remember the feeling of winning back freedom and younger people learn how Latvia’s long-suppressed…
In his greeting to the nation in Lacplesis Day today, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis said that Latvia will only be able to safeguard its independence with a modern, battle capable and strong armed forces. Vejonis said that November 11 is when Latvia honors its heroes – soldiers who gave their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom. ”Thanks to their bravery and love for their nation, they were able to…
