President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauceda urged citizens not to succumb to fears about the security of the state.
Speaking on Monday, March 11 at the event on the occasion of the day of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, the head of state noted that the Lithuanians were undoubtedly free because they dared to follow the path of state independence.
“Why today, after 34 years of independence, we spend time guessing when they attack us and scaring ourselves? Why allow us to publicly doubt our allies, who have repeatedly promised to fight with us? Why do we allow fear to manage us? This is not freedom. Freedom is not a constant, endless, intrusive search for external guarantees. Freedom is to come and do what needs to be done, ”said Nauceda at the ceremony of raising the flags of three Baltic states.
The president is convinced that freedom means paying for his own security. Freedom is a risk without which life is worth nothing, Nauced emphasized.
“On that day on March 11, the only and unique, we were certain, undoubtedly, courageously free. And no one will ever take away from us,” the president said.
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If, when restoring independence, the search for the safest path took place and feared the consequences, Lithuania would not have passed the tests on January 13 and could not become part of the European Union and NATO, the Lithuanian leader was convinced.
“If we had the opportunity to gather today on this square, if members of the Supreme Council – the restorative Sejm was wasting time in search of the safest path? And could the Lithuanian patriots safely perceive a different outcome of the meeting?” – asked the head of state.
“Would we have survived the tests on January 13, bloody attacks on border posts, constant intimidation and terror, if our minds and will were blurred by fear? We would dare to rush back to the west, achieving membership in the European Union and NATO, If all our attention were focused on the possible discontent of Russia? No, no – and again not, ”the politician emphasized.