Legislation, Lithuania, USA

Hillary Clinton and Irena Degutiene. Vilnius, 1.07.2011.

"I welcome you on coming to the most important building in Lithuania in which our freedom and independence was defended twenty years ago. Since the 1991 freedom fights, this building has been called the heart of Lithuania, the last bastion that the Soviet aggressors could not seize. The then most powerful empire worldwide lacked courage to attack tens of thousands of unarmed and praying people who gathered around the palace," said Degutiene.

Accompanied by the Seimas speaker, Clinton saw the exhibition Road to Freedom in the hall of the Parliament, which reflected the historical period of Lithuania, the so-called war after war, when thousands of young Lithuanians in forests were fighting the Soviets after World War Two. "Then, our freedom fighters did not expect to defeat the powerful war machine on their own; they expected help from the West, especially from the United States. Unfortunately, their hopes remained unfulfilled. Therefore, it is especially important for us that today we stand side by side in one fight for freedom and democracy. Lithuania understands it better than no one else that freedom must be protected and defended. Thus, even in case of a possible danger, we hope not to be left alone like in the post-war years. We hope for your significant, strong and clear support," Degutiene noted.

Clinton was invited to sign the guest book of the Seimas. "It was a great honour for me to be in the place in which the Lithuanians defended their freedom twenty years ago, and see clear democratic achievements now. God bless Lithuania," Clinton wrote.

Later, the U.S. secretary of state, together with the Seimas speaker and Baltic foreign ministers, laid a wreath at the January 13 memorial for freedom defenders at the Seimas., informs LETA/ELTA.

After the meeting, Seimas Speaker Degutiene told reporters that Clinton asked her about the writings on the barricades next to the Seimas. "I told her that it was freedom, independence, Lithuania. She was surprised and said that it was difficult to believe that unarmed people could have achieved so much. It was said once and again that the Lithuanians were a great nation because of their ability to achieve so much with bare hands," the Seimas speaker said.

Degutiene said that the U.S. secretary of state left her an impression of a very warm person. "It is obvious that she has not come here to put a thick in some agenda and that she really cares. It is a person who is a real promoter of democracy around the globe, being one of the highest U.S. officials, who was really interested in the opportunity to come to such a small state which, being weaponless, had won her freedom and independence without arms," said Degutiene.