Virginijus Savukynas on 17 years of Lithuanian independence

On March 11, 1990, the Lithuanian parliament declared the restoration of the country's independence, thus risking a confrontation with Moscow. Virginijus Savukynas examines what has been achieved since then: "Of course there are still many problems in Lithuania today, but didn't we have problems in Soviet times? The social disparities are no doubt greater today, and there are people who can't afford to buy meat. But back then there was no meat to buy and there were always long queues in front of the shops... However the most important thing is freedom. No matter how much we may criticise our political system, at least we have the freedom to do so - unlike in Soviet days. And no matter how much we may have got annoyed with our country, over the past 17 years there have been enough occasions when we were proud to be Lithuanians and not just part of the periphery of an empire."

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