Learning Shaping the Present & Future

First Baltic Senior Citizens’ Conference
Masters Challenges
Dr. Worms: “Ensuring good harvests together”

Text and photos by Ulrich Winz (Berlin)

KLAIPEDA (Lithuania), 18th/19th of September 2010. When asked for measurable results of the First Baltic Senior Citizens’ Conference in the Lithuanian harbour city of Klaipeda (former Memel) one must state the following:

• exchange of ideas between the Baltic senior citizens, Dr. Worms, the President of the European Senior Citizens’ Union, and the Honorary Consul, Baron Wolfgang von Stetten (both from Germany), the acting president of the parliament, Seimas, Ceslovas Vytautas Stankevicius (on the welcoming evening in Vilnius) as well as with other politicians and scientists from Lithuania and Germany – including the Vice-Chair of the Senior Citizens’ Union of the German Christian Democratic Union, Erika Reinhardt;
• extensive discussion of current urgent problems faced by Lithuania and its neighbouring countries, Latvia and Estonia leading to passing of three resolutions;
• agreement on tighter collaboration of the Baltic senior citizens’ associations which are members of the European Senior Citizens’ Union in the form of “a consortium”;
• the decision to continue partnership based relations between the Lithuanian and Baden-Württemberg senior citizens enriched with new ideas.

Deeply moving was commemoration of all who gave their life for the freedom of Lithuania, as the wounds of Soviet occupation are far from healed. A flower arrangement at the memorial listing the names of those exiled, shot, and missing in gulags and the common “Lord’s Prayer” made it clear that remembrance is an honour and responsibility at the European Senior Citizens’ Union.

1st Baltic Conference in Lithuanian Hanseatic city Klaipeda, September 2010

The conference was attended by more than 80 participants.

    Attractive Themes
The conference organiser, the United Senior Citizens’ Union of the Fatherland Union/Christian Democrats, chaired by Romualda Hofertiene and Jonas Volungevicius, have been looking for partners for their endeavour - these were, beyond the European Senior Citizens' Union, again the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Vilnius with Kristina Kviliunaite and Rita Lapiniene. The choice of the conference theme “Economic, political, social and cultural challenges and lifetime learning in the 21st Century” and their enthusiastic discussion led to words of acknowledgment directed at the plenum of over 80 participants by the head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Scandinavia and the Baltic region, Andreas M. Klein.
The six signatories of the Lithuanian independence declaration of March 11, 1990, have honoured the organisers by participating in the discussion.

The President, Dr. Worms, stated in his keynote speech looking back at the path of European integration since the World War II: “The seed has borne fruit. Now it is up to all of all to ensure a good harvest. Many of us are – thanks to longer life expectancy – capable and ready to sacrifice their free-time for indispensable reinforcement of democracy and stronger social fairness.”
The social market economy has proven to be a stabilising factor also in times of crisis and deserved worldwide acceptance, continued Worms. All member organisations of the European Senior Citizens’ Union must contribute to balance of capital and work in their own countries. “Nobody may fall into social misery; every individual has the right to social security in old age” emphasised the President. He expressly welcomed to accession of Estonia to the Euro Zone as of January 1, 2011 as yet another steps towards European integration.
On “lifetime learning” Worms replied “this is our answer to the doubling of knowledge every ten years”.

1st Baltic Conference in Lithuanian Hanseatic city Klaipeda, September 2010

Honorary Consul Prof. Dr. Wolfgang von Stetten delivering a speech.   Dr. Aili Kogerman from Tallinn calls for cooperation.

Living up to these demands is also essential for Prof. Dr. Wolfgang von Stetten (Germany). He has been active in Lithuania for nearly two decades. According to him, this country which “had experienced so much sorrow” caused by the Germans has been struggling to overcome the Soviet inheritance much more than for instance East Germany. Numerous projects have been realised together with Antanas Racas, his Lithuanian friend from Kelme. Over 1,000 trainees have already worked in Baden-Württemberg, emphasised von Stetten. Since the partnership between the senior citizens’ union of his federal province and the Lithuanian senior citizens’ association established five years ago by Erika Reinhardt has promoted understanding, it should be continued with new ideas. Initially a group from Lithuania will be invited to Germany to exchange experience.
On the fringes of the conference it became public that von Stetten would candidate as deputy chair of the senior citizens' union of the Christian Democratic Union and succeed Erika Reinhardt in October.

1st Baltic Conference in Lithuanian Hanseatic city Klaipeda, September 2010

At the monument of Lithuanian freedom fighters.

    Helping to Bridge the Gap
Romualda Hofertiene, the President of the United Senior Citizens’ Association of Lithuania stated that: political freedom gained 20 years ago must continuously be protected. This is especially true for the energy supply of the Baltic States in relation to their Eastern neighbours.
The lifetime learning demanded in the "Strategy of Lisbon" is a great invitation to use extended lifetimes meaningfully – both for oneself and the general public.
She particularly advocated bridging the gap between poverty and wealth following Christian social doctrines. Young and old must respond to increasing materialisation. The family, region, state, and Europe, as well as mother Earth, entrusted to us by the Lord must be defended against all threats.

For Agne Bilolaite, a young member of parliament, collaboration with organised senior citizens has become a matter of course. She would not accept the still common caginess and isolation of elderly citizens, since the elderly generation is a treasure to be discovered for the benefit of further development, she continued.

    Successful Intervention
Addressing the precarious situation of many pensioners Jolanta Zarina from Riga (Latvia) described the experience in dealing with the constitutional court. The court had to decide on over 15,000 letters demanding repayment of retained pensions and decided to the advantage of the plaintiffs.  Her speech encouraged the conference to pass a corresponding resolution directed at the Lithuanian government demanding amongst others acknowledgement of child raising times towards social security insurance.

1st Baltic Conference in Lithuanian Hanseatic city Klaipeda, September 2010

(L to R) Romualda Hofertiene, Dr. Bernhard Worms, Agne Bilotaite, Jonas Volungevicius (panel), Jolanta Zarina (standing).

Dr. Algimantas Buciunas, dean of the senior citizens’ university in Panevezys passionately advocated people-centred education of all age groups to counter increasing “relativism" and support focus on humanistic values. Senior citizens should benefit from similar public transport privileges to their younger fellow students.

Resulting from his speech and other opinions raised, the conference consented to a resolution directed at the governments in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn as well the Board of the European Senior Citizens’ Union. An education program for the young EU states is demand as stated by Romualda Hofertienes which remedies deficiencies in historical knowledge.

    Concerns regarding Atomic Safety
Energy supply and atomic safety were widely discussed. Stasys Malkevicius and other speakers see the citizens exposed to a latent danger through the construction of a nuclear power station in Belarus. Therefore, in another resolution the conference raised the demand directed at the government in Vilnius to explain the issues to the populations, especially regarding safety and security matters. Furthermore, the EU Energy Commissioner, Oettinger, should be informed of these concerns and requested evaluation of the risk at the outer EU borders.

Andrius Kubilius advocated stronger collaboration between the Baltic States in a message read out to the audience, the Prime Minister and Chair of the Homeland Union/Lithuanian Christian Democrats agreeing with the participating senior citizens; Dr. Aili Kogerman from Tallinn (Estonia) suggested cultural events including dancing parties as a possible field of collaboration. The tight Estonian network of “senior citizens' universities” is according to her also a good venue for exchanging experience. “Participating in society as an elixir of life" has many facets and strongly motivates honorary activities – also across national borders.  In addressing these ideas the senior citizens’ associations of the three Baltic states want to continue their collaboration in the future as "a consortium". The structures of the European Senior Citizens’ Union would remain unaffected.

    Song & Dance
Senior citizens from all seven regional groups – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Kelme, Panvezys, Anyksciai and Raseiniai – arrived at the conference. President Dr. Worms, Prof. von Stetten and other guests were pleased to receive sashes from Danute Erlena Bendikiene, the Klaipeda chair, embroidered by members of her group, which will always be reminiscent of a perfectly prepared, passionately organised and fruitful conference.
The interpreters, Rita, Jurka, Janina, Nomeda and Irena, significantly contributed to the overall good impression. Also to be noted – the friendly and amicable atmosphere within the “European Senior Citizens’ Union family” at the Ararat hotel, where the unexpected performance of a folklore group resulted in joint singing of internationally known songs. It was then hardly possible not to accept an invitation to the dance floor.
At the end of the conference the Lithuanian national anthem was sung, which says;
“May the sun above our land
Banish darkening clouds around
Light and truth all along
Guide our steps forever”
Lyrics and music by Vincas Kudirka (1898); the song premiered in 1905 and has been the national anthem since 1918 (independence from Russia).

Text and Photos: U. Winz