Polish–Lithuanian relations
Encyclopedia
Polish–Lithuanian relations dates from the 13th century, when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
under Mindaugas
took over some of the lands of Rus' and thus established a border with the then-fragmented Kingdom of Poland. Polish-Lithuanian relations improved, leading to an alliance. From the mid-16th to the late-18th century Poland and Lithuania merged to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, a state that was destroyed in the partitions of Poland
. Due also to rising nationalist sentiments of the 19th century, Polish-Lithuanian relations steadily worsened. Competing claims to the Vilnius region
led to armed conflict and poor relations in the interwar period
. During the Second World War Polish and Lithuanian territories were occupied by the Soviet Union
and Nazi Germany
, but relations between Poles and Lithuanians were still poor. After the end of World War II, both Poland and Lithuania found themselves in the Eastern Bloc
, Poland as a Soviet satellite state
, Lithuania as a Soviet republic
. Only after the fall of communism have relations been reestablished.
, with the brief exception of an 1320s alliance between king of Poland, Władysław Łokietek, and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas
. In 1385 the growing threat of the Teutonic Order to both countries led to a firmer alliance, the Union of Krewo
, which signaled the beginning of a centuries-long Polish–Lithuanian union. This alliance was strengthened by the Polish-Lithuanian victory of the Teutonic Knights
in the 1410 battle of Grunwald
.
As Lithuania was increasingly threatened by the Muscovy (see Lithuanian-Muscovite Wars), it sought to strengthen its ties with Poland. The union reached an important milestone in 1569, when the Union of Lublin
created a new federal state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which lasted until the Constitution of May 3, 1791 and partitions
. The period of the partitions saw the reversal of the previous process of polonization
, with the Lithuanian National Revival
, giving new prominence to the Lithuanian language
and culture.
Despite federation proposals such as Międzymorze
, after the First World War Lithuania chose to pursue independent statehood
instead of recreating a previous union. Differences on border issues, particularly over the cities of Vilnius
(Wilno) and Sejny
(Seinai) led to the Polish-Lithuanian War
and worsened relations for most of the interwar period.
Lithuanian-Polish relations continued to deteriorate, as Polish and Lithuanian forces skirmished in the background of the Polish-Soviet War
(and Lithuanian-Soviet War). Polish Military Organization staged Sejny Uprising
was met with massive outrage in Lithuania. Furthermore the image of Poles deteriorated because of the uncovered plot to overthrow sovereign Lithuanian government by the Polish Military Organization, supported by the local Polish minority. The relations worsened further still as the Polish-Lithuanian War
erupted, and Józef Piłsudski ordered Żeligowski's Mutiny
. In the aftermath of the Polish annexation of the Republic of Central Lithuania
, Lithuania severed diplomatic relations with Poland. Poland and Lithuania experienced notable crisis' in their relationship in 1927 (where a threat of renewed hostilities led to partial restoration of the diplomatic relations) and 1938 (when the 1938 Polish ultimatum to Lithuania
forced Lithuania to agree to full restoration of the diplomatic relations). The League of Nations
was involved in smoothing over the conflicts in 1919-20 and 1927.
After the events of 1919-20, Polish actions and the Poles themselves were viewed with a high level of suspicion in Lithuania, and vice versa. Both governments - in the era nationalism swept through Europe - treated their respective minorities harshly. In Lithuania, people declaring Polish ethnicity were officially described as Lithuanians who merely needed to be re-Lithuanianized
, Polish-owned land were confiscated, Polish religious services, schools, publications, and voting rights were restricted. The Lithuanian minority in Poland was an object of Polonisation, with the government encouraging settlement of Polish army veterans in disputed regions.
Almost all Lithuanian schools were closed (266) and almost all Lithuanian organizations were banned.
of Armia Krajowa
on territories inhabited by Lithuanians and Poles. In recent years a number of common academic conference
s have started to bridge the gap between Lithuanian and Polish interpretations, but significant differences still remain.
of Soviet Union
. Poland was shifted westwards
, thus giving up most of the disputed territories previously containing significant Lithuanian minority in the Second Polish Republic
, those territories were incorporated into Lithuanian SSR
and Belarus SSR, itself one of the Soviet republic
s. At the same time many Poles from Kresy
were allowed to leave the Soviet Union, and mostly were transferred west
to Recovered Territories
, and the Polish minority in Lithuania
(or Lithuanian SSR) was also significantly downsized. The remaining Polish minority in Lithuania
became subject to Lithuanization
and Sovietization
policies. Under the eye of the Soviet Union, the various ethnic groups in the Eastern Bloc
were to cooperate peacefully. To prevent creation or recreation of historical alliances that could weaken the Soviet regime, Soviet policy was aimed at minimizing the role of the historical ties between those nations, and there were few contacts of any significance between Poland and Lithuania during that period.
, and Lithuanian concerns that Poland sought again to put Lithuania under its sphere of influence, or even issue territorial claims. After a few years, the situation normalized, and relations improved. On 28 September 1992 the foreign ministers of both nations signed a declaration of friendship and neighborly relations and a consular convention, rejecting any territorial claims and promising to respect the rights of their corresponding minorities. On 26 April 1994 during the meeting of presidents of both countries in Vilnius
they concluded the mutual Friendship Treaty. Both countries joining the NATO (Poland in 1999, Lithuania in 2004, with Poland being a vocal supporter of Lithuania's accession) and European Union
(both in 2004).
However, in the late 2000s, disagreements over Lithuania's implementation of the Friendship Treaty have soured relations and cooperation on energy issues. The electricity grids of Poland and Lithuania are not yet inter-connected and the gas pipelines of the two countries are only connected through a Russian controlled gas pipeline. Previously stated intentions have been stalled by the row over the Friendship Treaty. Polish president Bronisław Komorowski during a visit to Lithuania in February 2011 expressed concerns over the deterioration of relations, and noted that the full implementation of the Friendship Treaty should allow Poles in Lithuania to use the original forms of their surnames and to access education in Polish language. In case C-391/09 - Runevič-Vardyn and Wardyn the European Court of Justice
ruled that the Lithuanian policy on surnames conforms to the EU law. However, it does not mean that Lithuania's Friendship Treaty obligations towards Poland are fulfilled.
Lithuania has an embassy in Warsaw
. Poland has an embassy in Vilnius
, a consulate general in Sejny
and an honorary consulate in Klaipėda
. There are around 250,000 Poles
living in Lithuania and around 25,000 ethnic Lithuanians living in Poland. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States
.
Both countries share a common border of 103 km.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
under Mindaugas
Mindaugas
Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians...
took over some of the lands of Rus' and thus established a border with the then-fragmented Kingdom of Poland. Polish-Lithuanian relations improved, leading to an alliance. From the mid-16th to the late-18th century Poland and Lithuania merged to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, a state that was destroyed in the partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
. Due also to rising nationalist sentiments of the 19th century, Polish-Lithuanian relations steadily worsened. Competing claims to the Vilnius region
Vilnius region
Vilnius Region , refers to the territory in the present day Lithuania, that was originally inhabited by ethnic Baltic tribes and was a part of Lithuania proper, but came under East Slavic and Polish cultural influences over time,...
led to armed conflict and poor relations in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. During the Second World War Polish and Lithuanian territories were occupied by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, but relations between Poles and Lithuanians were still poor. After the end of World War II, both Poland and Lithuania found themselves in the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
, Poland as a Soviet satellite state
Satellite state
A satellite state is a political term that refers to a country that is formally independent, but under heavy political and economic influence or control by another country...
, Lithuania as a Soviet republic
Soviet Republic
Soviet republic, a republic ruled by soviets , may refer to one of the following:*Bolshevik Russia and the Russian SFSR after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and during the Russian Civil War.*Any of the Republics of the Soviet Union....
. Only after the fall of communism have relations been reestablished.
Middle ages
Until the late 14th century, most of contact between the two countries was limited to border military conflictsTerritorial dispute
A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states or over the possession or control of land by a new state and occupying power after it has conquered the land from a former state no longer currently recognized by the new state.-Context and...
, with the brief exception of an 1320s alliance between king of Poland, Władysław Łokietek, and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas
Gediminas of Lithuania
Gediminas was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death. He is credited with founding this political entity and expanding its territory which, at the time of his death, spanned the area ranging from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea...
. In 1385 the growing threat of the Teutonic Order to both countries led to a firmer alliance, the Union of Krewo
Union of Krewo
In a strict sense, the Union of Krewo or Act of Krėva was a set of prenuptial promises made in the Kreva Castle on 14 August 1385 by Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in exchange for marriage to the underage reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland...
, which signaled the beginning of a centuries-long Polish–Lithuanian union. This alliance was strengthened by the Polish-Lithuanian victory of the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in the 1410 battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
.
As Lithuania was increasingly threatened by the Muscovy (see Lithuanian-Muscovite Wars), it sought to strengthen its ties with Poland. The union reached an important milestone in 1569, when the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
created a new federal state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which lasted until the Constitution of May 3, 1791 and partitions
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
. The period of the partitions saw the reversal of the previous process of polonization
Polonization
Polonization was the acquisition or imposition of elements of Polish culture, in particular, Polish language, as experienced in some historic periods by non-Polish populations of territories controlled or substantially influenced by Poland...
, with the Lithuanian National Revival
Lithuanian National Revival
Lithuanian National Revival, alternatively Lithuanian National Awakening , was a period of the history of Lithuania in the 19th century at the time when a major part of Lithuanian inhabited areas belonged to the Russian Empire...
, giving new prominence to the Lithuanian language
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
and culture.
Interbellum
Miedzymorze
Międzymorze was a plan, pursued after World War I by Polish leader Józef Piłsudski, for a federation, under Poland's aegis, of Central and Eastern European countries...
, after the First World War Lithuania chose to pursue independent statehood
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
instead of recreating a previous union. Differences on border issues, particularly over the cities of Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(Wilno) and Sejny
Sejny
Sejny is a town in north-eastern Poland, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, close to the border with Lithuania and Belarus. It is located in the eastern part of the Suwałki Lake Area , on the Marycha river, being a tributary of Czarna Hańcza...
(Seinai) led to the Polish-Lithuanian War
Polish-Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
and worsened relations for most of the interwar period.
Lithuanian-Polish relations continued to deteriorate, as Polish and Lithuanian forces skirmished in the background of the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
(and Lithuanian-Soviet War). Polish Military Organization staged Sejny Uprising
Sejny Uprising
The Sejny Uprising or Seinai Revolt refers to a Polish uprising in the ethnically-mixed area surrounding Sejny against the Lithuanian authorities in August 1919. When German forces, which occupied the territory during World War I, retreated from the area, the administration was handed to the...
was met with massive outrage in Lithuania. Furthermore the image of Poles deteriorated because of the uncovered plot to overthrow sovereign Lithuanian government by the Polish Military Organization, supported by the local Polish minority. The relations worsened further still as the Polish-Lithuanian War
Polish-Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
erupted, and Józef Piłsudski ordered Żeligowski's Mutiny
Zeligowski's Mutiny
Żeligowski's Mutiny was a sham mutiny led by Polish General Lucjan Żeligowski in October 1920, which resulted in the creation of the short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania. Polish Chief of State Józef Piłsudski had surreptitiously ordered Żeligowski to carry out the operation, and revealed the...
. In the aftermath of the Polish annexation of the Republic of Central Lithuania
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania , or simply Central Lithuania , was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition...
, Lithuania severed diplomatic relations with Poland. Poland and Lithuania experienced notable crisis' in their relationship in 1927 (where a threat of renewed hostilities led to partial restoration of the diplomatic relations) and 1938 (when the 1938 Polish ultimatum to Lithuania
1938 Polish ultimatum to Lithuania
The 1938 Polish ultimatum to Lithuania was an ultimatum delivered to Lithuania by Poland on March 17, 1938. The Lithuanian government had steadfastly refused to have any diplomatic relations with Poland after 1920, protesting the annexation by Poland of the Vilnius Region. As pre-World War II...
forced Lithuania to agree to full restoration of the diplomatic relations). The League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
was involved in smoothing over the conflicts in 1919-20 and 1927.
After the events of 1919-20, Polish actions and the Poles themselves were viewed with a high level of suspicion in Lithuania, and vice versa. Both governments - in the era nationalism swept through Europe - treated their respective minorities harshly. In Lithuania, people declaring Polish ethnicity were officially described as Lithuanians who merely needed to be re-Lithuanianized
Lithuanization
Lithuanization is a process of cultural assimilation - adoption, either forced or voluntary, of Lithuanian culture or language, experienced by non-Lithuanian people or groups of people.- History :...
, Polish-owned land were confiscated, Polish religious services, schools, publications, and voting rights were restricted. The Lithuanian minority in Poland was an object of Polonisation, with the government encouraging settlement of Polish army veterans in disputed regions.
Almost all Lithuanian schools were closed (266) and almost all Lithuanian organizations were banned.
World War II
The issue of Polish and Lithuanian relations during the Second World War is a controversial one, and some modern Lithuanian and Polish historians still differ in their interpretations of the related events, many of which are related to the treatment of Poles by the Lithuanian Nazi-collaborationist government and security forces, and the operations of Polish resistance organizationPolish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
of Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
on territories inhabited by Lithuanians and Poles. In recent years a number of common academic conference
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
s have started to bridge the gap between Lithuanian and Polish interpretations, but significant differences still remain.
Communist era
The Second World War put an end to independent Polish and Lithuanian states. After the war, both former states fell under the sphere of influenceSphere of influence
In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence is a spatial region or conceptual division over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military or political influence....
of Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Poland was shifted westwards
Territorial changes of Poland after World War II
The territorial changes of Poland after World War II were very extensive. In 1945, following the Second World War, Poland's borders were redrawn following the decisions made at the Potsdam Conference of 1945 at the insistence of the Soviet Union...
, thus giving up most of the disputed territories previously containing significant Lithuanian minority in the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, those territories were incorporated into Lithuanian SSR
Lithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
and Belarus SSR, itself one of the Soviet republic
Soviet Republic
Soviet republic, a republic ruled by soviets , may refer to one of the following:*Bolshevik Russia and the Russian SFSR after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and during the Russian Civil War.*Any of the Republics of the Soviet Union....
s. At the same time many Poles from Kresy
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
were allowed to leave the Soviet Union, and mostly were transferred west
Repatriation of Poles
Repatriation of Poles can refer to:*Repatriation of Poles *Repatriation of Poles...
to Recovered Territories
Recovered Territories
Recovered or Regained Territories was an official term used by the People's Republic of Poland to describe those parts of pre-war Germany that became part of Poland after World War II...
, and the Polish minority in Lithuania
Polish minority in Lithuania
The Polish minority in Lithuania numbered 234,989 persons, according to the Lithuanian census of 2001, or 6.74% of the total population of Lithuania. It is the largest ethnic minority in the country and the second largest Polish diaspora group among the post-Soviet states...
(or Lithuanian SSR) was also significantly downsized. The remaining Polish minority in Lithuania
Polish minority in Lithuania
The Polish minority in Lithuania numbered 234,989 persons, according to the Lithuanian census of 2001, or 6.74% of the total population of Lithuania. It is the largest ethnic minority in the country and the second largest Polish diaspora group among the post-Soviet states...
became subject to Lithuanization
Lithuanization
Lithuanization is a process of cultural assimilation - adoption, either forced or voluntary, of Lithuanian culture or language, experienced by non-Lithuanian people or groups of people.- History :...
and Sovietization
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
policies. Under the eye of the Soviet Union, the various ethnic groups in the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
were to cooperate peacefully. To prevent creation or recreation of historical alliances that could weaken the Soviet regime, Soviet policy was aimed at minimizing the role of the historical ties between those nations, and there were few contacts of any significance between Poland and Lithuania during that period.
Modern times
The fall of communism in the years between 1989 and 1991 led to a formal reestablishment of relations by the Polish and Lithuanian states. Poland was highly supportive of Lithuanian independence, and became one of the first countries to recognize independent Lithuania (on 26 August 1991). Despite that, there was a relative crisis in the early 1990s, due to alleged Lithuanian mistreatment of its Polish minorityPolish minority in Lithuania
The Polish minority in Lithuania numbered 234,989 persons, according to the Lithuanian census of 2001, or 6.74% of the total population of Lithuania. It is the largest ethnic minority in the country and the second largest Polish diaspora group among the post-Soviet states...
, and Lithuanian concerns that Poland sought again to put Lithuania under its sphere of influence, or even issue territorial claims. After a few years, the situation normalized, and relations improved. On 28 September 1992 the foreign ministers of both nations signed a declaration of friendship and neighborly relations and a consular convention, rejecting any territorial claims and promising to respect the rights of their corresponding minorities. On 26 April 1994 during the meeting of presidents of both countries in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
they concluded the mutual Friendship Treaty. Both countries joining the NATO (Poland in 1999, Lithuania in 2004, with Poland being a vocal supporter of Lithuania's accession) and European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(both in 2004).
However, in the late 2000s, disagreements over Lithuania's implementation of the Friendship Treaty have soured relations and cooperation on energy issues. The electricity grids of Poland and Lithuania are not yet inter-connected and the gas pipelines of the two countries are only connected through a Russian controlled gas pipeline. Previously stated intentions have been stalled by the row over the Friendship Treaty. Polish president Bronisław Komorowski during a visit to Lithuania in February 2011 expressed concerns over the deterioration of relations, and noted that the full implementation of the Friendship Treaty should allow Poles in Lithuania to use the original forms of their surnames and to access education in Polish language. In case C-391/09 - Runevič-Vardyn and Wardyn the European Court of Justice
Court of Justice of the European Union
The Court of Justice of the European Union is the institution of the European Union which encompasses the whole judiciary. Seated in Luxembourg, it has three sub-courts; the European Court of Justice, the General Court and the Civil Service Tribunal.The institution was originally established in...
ruled that the Lithuanian policy on surnames conforms to the EU law. However, it does not mean that Lithuania's Friendship Treaty obligations towards Poland are fulfilled.
Lithuania has an embassy in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Poland has an embassy in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, a consulate general in Sejny
Sejny
Sejny is a town in north-eastern Poland, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, close to the border with Lithuania and Belarus. It is located in the eastern part of the Suwałki Lake Area , on the Marycha river, being a tributary of Czarna Hańcza...
and an honorary consulate in Klaipėda
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
. There are around 250,000 Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
living in Lithuania and around 25,000 ethnic Lithuanians living in Poland. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States
Council of the Baltic Sea States
The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an overall political forum for regional intergovernmental cooperation which addresses the five priority areas of the environment, economic development, energy, education and culture, civil security and human dimension, including trafficking in human...
.
Both countries share a common border of 103 km.
External links
- Polish-Lithuanian Co-operation - on post-1991 Polish–Lithuanian relations, Polish Embassy in Lithuania
- Lithuanian PM ‘I know what Lithuania’s Poles need’ Andrius KubiliusAndrius KubiliusAndrius Kubilius is a Lithuanian politician who has been Prime Minister of Lithuania since 2008. He previously served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000. He is the leader of the conservative political party Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.- Biography :Kubilius was born at Vilnius...
interview to Gazeta WyborczaGazeta WyborczaGazeta Wyborcza is a leading Polish newspaper. It covers the gamut of political, international and general news. Like all the Polish newspapers, it is printed on compact-sized paper, and is published by the multimedia corporation Agora SA...
on the relations between two states, 4 November 2010 - B. Dundulis, A historiographic survey of Lithuanian-Polish relations, LituanusLituanusLituanus is an English language quarterly journal dedicated to Lithuanian and Baltic languages, linguistics, political science, arts, history, literature, and related topics. It is published by the non-profit Lituanus Foundation, Inc., and has a worldwide circulation of about 3,000 copies per...
, Lithuanian quarterly journal of arts and sciences, Volume 17, No.4 - Winter 1971 - Joanna Rohozinska, The Conquest of Pragmatism: A new chapter in Polish-Lithuanian relations, Central Europe Review, Vol 1, No 13, 20 September 1999
- Virgil Krapauskas, Political change in Poland and Lithuania: The impact on Polish-Lithuanian ethnic relations as reflected in Lithuanian-language publications in Poland (1945-1991), Journal of Baltic Studies, Volume 29, Issue 3 Autumn 1998 , pages 261 - 278, http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a770955025~db=all
- Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Poland (in Lithuanian only)
- Lithuanian embassy in Warsaw
- Lithuanian consulate general in Sejny (in Lithuanian and Polish only)
- Polish embassy in Vilnius
See also
- History of LithuaniaHistory of LithuaniaThe history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term. Lithuanians, a branch of the Baltic peoples, later conquered neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and in the 13th century the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania. The Grand Duchy...
and Foreign relations of LithuaniaForeign relations of LithuaniaLithuania became a member of the United Nations on September 18, 1991, and is a signatory to a number of its organizations and other international agreements. It is also a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO and its adjunct North Atlantic Coordinating Council,... - History of PolandHistory of PolandThe History of Poland is rooted in the arrival of the Slavs, who gave rise to permanent settlement and historic development on Polish lands. During the Piast dynasty Christianity was adopted in 966 and medieval monarchy established...
and Foreign relations of PolandForeign relations of PolandThe Republic of Poland is a Central European country and member of the European Union and NATO, among others. In recent years, Poland has extended its responsibilities and position in European and Western affairs, supporting and establishing friendly foreign relations with both the West and with... - Lithuanian minority in PolandLithuanian minority in PolandLithuanian minority in Poland consists of 5,639 people living chiefly in the Podlaskie Voivodeship in the north-eastern part of Poland...
and Polish minority in LithuaniaPolish minority in LithuaniaThe Polish minority in Lithuania numbered 234,989 persons, according to the Lithuanian census of 2001, or 6.74% of the total population of Lithuania. It is the largest ethnic minority in the country and the second largest Polish diaspora group among the post-Soviet states...