This Tuesday is Reclaiming the Press, Speech and Book Day.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė congratulates May 7 on the occasion of the Day of the Recovery of the Press, Speech and Book, which is celebrated in Lithuania.
“On the day of the recovery of the press, the speech and the book, I sincerely congratulate everyone who cherishes free speech and its creative, democratic and cultural power.
It reminds us of the national movement ignited with the help of the early Lithuanian press and the significance of the press in the transformation of the idea of the modern Lithuanian state into a body, resistance during the occupations and the restoration of independence.
And today, free speech is no less important. Right next to us, we see examples of countries where independent media is silenced or destroyed, and the oxygen of democracy – free thought, criticism and exchange of ideas – does not exist. What a threat such regimes become to journalists, to their citizens, and finally to neighboring countries.
Let’s protect free speech and all that it strengthens and enriches us”, the Head of the Government said in her greeting.
The Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, congratulates the people of Lithuania on the occasion of the Day of the Restoration of Press, Language and Books.
“120 years ago, the ban on the Lithuanian press and Latin characters was abolished. A period of four decades was to destroy our language and writing, and through them, our identity. At least that’s what the tsarist government planned.
However, despite the great risk, people did not stop reading and speaking in their mother tongue. Because the ban gave birth to a phenomenon of Lithuanian culture that has no analogues in the world – bookselling. And matured the patriotic society, which led to the declaration of an independent state.
On the occasion of the recovery of the press, language and book day, let’s remember booksellers and be proud to live in Lithuania, where the Lithuanian word is free, respected and uncensored”, says V. Čmilytė-Nielsen.
