Events in Latvia dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way

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Aug.07.2009 | Events in Latvia dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way

„The Baltic Way” in the media:

The Baltic Way website: www.balticway.net

The Latvian National Commission for UNESCO has made a website, which is dedicated to the nomination of the Baltic Way for the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. An informative presentation „The Baltic Way – a human chain linking three states in their drive for freedom (1989 – 2009)” is available on the website in Latvian and in English. The materials included in the presentation feature the historical background of the Baltic Way, the way it was held, the significance and the remembrance of it after 10 and 20 years, as well as about the nomination in the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. The presentation will be available for everyone and will tell about the history and meaning of the Baltic Way in a non-commercial way.

"NEWS" section of the website www.balticway.net provides information on events in 2009, dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way.

Contact person: Zane Paula- Pāvula, The Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, 67325109, zane@unesco.lv

Photo Project „The Baltic Way 1989-2009. How it happened.”

In July 2007, with the support from the European Cultural Foundation, young photographers from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania went on a two-week trip along the Baltic Way route. Following this symbolic route, young photographers with some childhood memories about the Baltic Way took pictures from their point of view, with perception and understanding they have 20 years after the campaign. This road not only has symbolic and historical value, it also reflects the everyday life in the Baltic states as it leads both along main roads (VIA Baltica) and small countryside roads. In Latvia the project was organized by an association “UrbanTrip”, which bases its activities on socially meaningful photography.

More information: www.photoroad.lv/viabaltica/

Contact person: Ervins Labanovskis, assosiation „UrbanTrip”, ervins@urbantrip.lv, ervins.labanovskis@riga.lv

The 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way – priority of the Baltic Assembly 2009

Resolution on the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way, and more detailed information is available on the Baltic Assembly website: www.baltasam.org/?DocID=784

TV3 film cycle “Return to Europe. Latvia 1988-2008”.

July 27 – August 2

Seven documentaries about historical turning-points, everyday human life and a mosaic of shared memories in Latvia’s history from 1988 to 2008. Films will be broadcasted on TV3 on weekdays at 20.50 and at weekends at 20.20.

Contact person: Ivars Bušmanis, European Commission Representation in Latvia, 67085414, ivars.busmanis@ec.europa.eu

Interesting articles about the Baltic Way:

Ojārs Kalniņš “Where there’s a Wall, there’s a Way”

Article on the website “1989-2009 Europe, Whole and Free”, in section “Your memories”.

Sandra Kalniete „The Baltic Way fulfilled”

“Three national movements knew how to implement the Baltic Entente idea of the first Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zigfrids Meirovics. Henceforth, all the significant actions or decisions were mutually agreed upon. The highest manifestation of this concord became the Baltic Assembly, which gathered for the first time on 14 and 15 May, 1989 in Tallinn. The Assembly accepted the Declaration on the Rights of the Baltic Nations, Declaration of the Economic Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Resolution on Stalinist Crimes and Call to Conference on Security and Co-operation country leaders, Secretary General of UNO and the Chairperson of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council. [..] Henceforward, the Baltic Council, founded within the Assembly, spoke to the world on behalf of our three nations. Until the regaining of independence, seven meetings of the Baltic Council were held. It was the Baltic Council which encouraged to join hands in the Baltic Way on August 23, so that this unprecedented action would remind the world that the Baltic states still remain victims of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, signed 50 years ago.”

Ivars Godmanis „About the 31 May Appeal of the Board of the Popular Front of Latvia.” Atmoda. 24 July, 1989, page 2

The Baltic Way – reaserch, action, competitions

June – August

Project „The Baltic Way and schools: in living memory”

During the project, organized by the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and the Occupation Museum of Latvia, research undertaken on the reflection of the Baltic Way rally in school books published since 1989 in the Baltic states. As a result, methodological material will be produced with recommendations for teachers to include the Baltic Way in school programmes and events, and materials on project results will be prepared for publishing. Target audience: historians and history teachers of the Baltic states.

On 15 July in Riga, the meeting of researchers from the Baltic states that participate in the project, but on 22 July in Riga, the meeting of researchers and teachers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The study will be available on www.balticway.net and www.unesco.lv.

Contact person: Zane Paula- Pāvula, The Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, 67325109, zane@unesco.lv or Danute Dūra, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, 67211030, danute@omf.lv

June – October

Poster competition „Freedom as well” (“Arī brīvība”)

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the Goethe-Institut in Riga, the National Library of Latvia and the Artist’s Union of Latvia organize a poster competition for the prospective and professional artists, dedicated to the Fall of the Berlin Wall and changes during the years 1989 – 1991.

Contact person: Danute Dūra, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, 67211030, danute@omf.lv or Janis Spalviņš, the International Association of Art (IAA), Executive Committee of IAA Europe, 29727748

May – August

Campaign „Memories – testimony of the Baltic Way”

The campaign, organized by the Museum of the Popular Front and the portal “diena.lv”, encourages to write memory stories and send photographs featuring the Baltic Way rally. The materials will supplement the collection of the Museum of the Popular Front.

Send materials to: ltfmuz@mail.eunet.lv or tautas_balss@diena.lv

Venue of presentation: Museum of the Popular Front, Vecpilsētas iela 13/15, Riga

Contact persons: Ilze Bule, Museum of the Popular Front, 67224502, ltfmuz@mail.eunet.lv un Māra Miķelsone, „Tautas balss”, 67063102, tautas_balss@diena.lv

July – August

Letter competition “The Baltic Way”

“To remind people about the Baltic Way, we expect memory stories from readers, in which you describe the exact place you were standing, who was with you, in what way you were informed about the Baltic Way campaign [..], what your emotions and hopes were at that moment and whether your hopes have come true. Would you agree to make the Baltic Way again – after 20 years? Who have you told about this campaign – your children, grandchildren or neighbours – and what reaction were you expecting? We look forward to read answers to these questions in your letters.”

Length of the letter: in handwriting – not more than two pages, computer-generated – 3000 charters with spaces. The stories will be published; authors of the most interesting stories will get prizes from the publishing house “Lauku Avīze”.

Organised by: Lauku Avīze

Letters should be sent until 10 August to the editorial office of Lauku Avīze with a note “Baltic Way”. “Lauku Avīze”, Dzirnavu iela 21, Riga, LV-1010 or to e-mail address: aivis.vincevs@la.lv

August 11-14

Youth project „Back for the Future!” coordinated by the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

A joint study by Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian young people about the significance of the Baltic way from the contemporaries’ point of view. The outcome of research will be summarized during a five day camp in Salacgriva, Latvia. The output of the project – exhibition of posters, made by young people will be displayed in the yard of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Strēlnieku laukums 1, Riga.

Read more: www.omf.lv

Contact person: Danute Dūra, Occupation Museum of Latvia, 672211030, danute@omf.lv

21 – 23 August

Ceremonial events organized by the Baltic Assembly

The Baltic Assembly organizes a trip, where participants will follow the Baltic Way route and will carry the Baltic Unity Torch. The Torch will be lit in Tallinn and after that, bonfires will be lit in the centres of cities where the Baltic Way route participants will stop.

In the capitals of the Baltic states, the initiators and main organizers of the Baltic Way will be decorated with the Baltic Assembly medal. The ceremony of awarding the BA medals will be held on 22 August at 19:00 by the parliament (Saeima) building. From Latvians, this medal is given to the signers of the Baltic Council Pärnu and Cēsis Communique: Ivars Godmanis, Dainis Īvāns, Valentīna Zeile, Arnolds Klotiņš, Jānis Lucāns and to the main organizers of the Baltic Way: Sandra Kalniete, Dzintra Padedze, Ivars Prauliņš, Sarmīte Ēlerte, Ints Upmacis and Jānis Škapars.

In the afternoon of August 23, a ceremonial meeting of Parliament will be held in Vilnius, with the participation of the Parliament chairpersons from the three Baltic states.

Contact person: Ingrīda Putniņa, Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia, 67087335, Ingrida.Putnina@saeima.lv

22-23 August

Motor ride dedicated to the Baltic Way (“Baltic Chain Run”)

“The Baltic Chain Run” is organised by Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian motorcycle clubs. The Baltic Chain Run follows the same route as the Baltic Way from Vilnius and Tallinn to Sigulda, where celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Baltic Way will take place with speeches and concert.

Organised by the Estonian Motorcycle Club Association (EMCA)

Contact person: Aare Kõuts, President of the EMCA, aare@piratica.ee

23 August

Postmarking the envelope dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way

Postmarking the first day envelope on August 23 from 10:00-15:00.

Venue: Museum of the Popular Front, in Riga, Vecpilsētas iela 13/15

Organized by the Museum of the Popular Front and the Latvian Post.

Contact person: Ilze Bule, Museum of the Popular Front, 67224502, ltfmuz@mail.eunet.lv; Edmunds Bebrišs, Latvian Post

The Baltic Way: exhibitions – testimony in photographs and documents

1 – 31 July

Exhibition “The Baltic Way”

The exhibition can be seen in the windows of the Directorate General of Latvia State Archives building, Šķūņu iela 11, Riga.

The exhibition has been compiled by the Directorate General of Latvia State Archives, using documents from the National Archive of Lithuania, the National Archive of Estonia, the Latvia State Archive of Audiovisual Documents, the Museum of the Popular Front.

Contact person: Digne Bērze, 67226532, digne.berze@arhivi.lv

From August

Travelling exhibition of photographs „The Baltic Way that moved the world”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs features photographs and documents - testimonies about the Baltic Way in the Baltic states and elsewhere in the world.

In August, the exhibition will be displayed in the first floor lobby in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, K.Valdemāra iela 3 (Please, arrange your visit by calling 67015984). On 8 September, the exposition will be shown in the seminar “The Baltic Way: three countries hand in hand. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. 1989-2009” in the Senate of France in Paris (31, rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 PARIS). Starting from October, the exposition will be available for exhibiting in other countries.

The exhibition curator: photographer Ilmars Znotins.

Contact person: Elīna Krēsliņa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, 67015984, elina.kreslina@mfa.gov.lv

September

Embassies of the Baltic states and the Senate of France in Paris organise events dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of “The Baltic Way”:

8 September – afternoon seminar “The Baltic Way: three countries hand in hand. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. 1989-2009” („La Voie balte : trois pays main dans la main. Estonie, Lettonie, Lituanie. 1989 – 2009”) – the aim of the seminar is to discuss the historical meaning of The Baltic Way, analyse the course of development accomplished by the Baltic states during these 20 years and share the future vision of the European Union.

The Chairman of the France- Baltic inter-parliamentary co-operation group Denis Badré, speakers of the Estonian and Latvian Parliaments, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania and organisers of the Baltic Way Mart Laar, Sandra Kalniete, Vytautas Landsbergis will participate in the seminar.

The seminar is organised with the patronage of chairman of the Senate Gérard Larcher and chairman of the France- Baltic inter-parliamentary group Denis Badré.

Travelling exhibition of photographs “The Baltic Way that moved the world”
Screening of films

Contact person Vita Timermane-Moora, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, 67016476, vita.timermane-moora@mfa.gov.lv

August – September

Exhibition “Singing Revolution. Rebirth of Freedom.”

An exhibition of historical testimony – photographs and documents, reflecting the social and political processes of the Latvian National Awakening at end of the 20^th century. Venue of exhibition: Brussels, Permanent Representation of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union.

Contact persons: Meldra Usenko,