What is the ocasion we celebrate: State, Republic and / or Democracy? Who created Lithuania – politicians or entrepreneurs?

Edmundas Jakilaitis V broadcaster, spoke to the historian, professor of VMU Dr. Egidijus Aleksandravičius.

The participants of the discussion touched each and every citizen of our country with completely relevant and sensitive topics. What did Lithuania was at the time when the Independence Act was published? What historical circumstances and personalities led to the fact that in Lithuania, nevertheless, it succeeded in doing this, although some other nations at the same time also tried to go on a similar path, but their attempts were not successful.

A lot has been said about the elite, which has gained enormose responsibility in the name of the nation, as it was one hundred years ago, and the 1990s … The situation of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and other nations is also compared. The causes and consequences of emigration are remembered, the agrarian reform and a number of other themes related to Lithuania as a state have been discussed.

Eglė Dudėnas, who returned to Lithuania after emigration immediately after the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, continued the discussion. Her husband – Vytautas Dudėnas became one of the first Lithuanian finance ministers and a member of the Seimas, and she himself worked as a volunteer at the Ministry of Culture and Education and also led the Lithuanian Rytas Charity and Support Foundation.

E.Dudėnas told about the Liberation Committee of Lithuania (VLIK), which was founded in 1943. The efforts of representatives of Lithuanian political parties and resistance organizations, and until 1990, March 11 was active throughout the world, and she was also a member of this organization.

For many was unknown the fact that the joint delegation of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians, including E. Dudėnas, in 1973 went to the European Security and Co-operation Conference in Helsinki, where all members of this delegation were arrested at the request of the Soviet Union, but because of the excellent relations with the highest diplomats from different countries they were quickly released and took the opportunity to draw their attention and to inform the world about the Baltic states’ determination to restore Independence.

The event finished with the festive tasting of the sparkling wine, presented to us by Jūratė Sprindžiūnaitė. Jūratė earlier worked as a professional journalist in the daily “Respublika”, “Lietuvos rytas”, in the styles “Style”, “Style Plus”, “People”, “Woman”, “Vyno žurnalas”. For twenty years she has published many essays on wine and winemakers, tours of wine and international wine exhibitions, blind tastings. And a couple of years ago her passion for wine became her work. Jūratė is also the founder of the Champagne Academy, as well as the organizer of the Champagne Days.