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U.S. Ambassador Mull Responds to Request for Information on American Support for Civil Society in Lithuania

5 December 2005

U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull responded to a request for information on U.S. support for civil society by saying that “Lithuania’s vibrant civil society is one of the most important factors in Lithuania’s extraordinary and historic transition to democracy in the past 15 years, and Americans are proud of the substantial assistance that the U.S. government, private organizations and individuals have provided to it."

Ambassador Mull added that "Lithuania today is a free country filled with great opportunity, thanks in part to the outstanding work of the many hundreds of civil society organizations that operate here.  They deserve tolerance, support and freedom to operate, not suspicion and baseless accusation.”

The full text of the letter follows:

December 5, 2005

Ms. Loreta Graužinienė
Labor Party Group Elder
Lithuanian Seimas
Gedimino pr. 53
Vilnius

Dear Ms. Graužinienė:

This is in response to your recent request for information about the accuracy of recent press reports regarding American sources of support for civil society institutions in Lithuania.

Lithuania’s vibrant civil society is one of the most important factors in Lithuania’s extraordinary and historic transition to democracy in the past 15 years, and Americans are proud of the substantial assistance that the U.S. government, private organizations and individuals have provided to it.  Our assistance has not sought to impose any political ideology or influence the shape of any of Lithuania’s post-independence governments, with whom we have had warm and productive relations without exception.  Rather, we have supported Lithuanian citizens in fighting corruption, promoting civic activism and volunteerism, supporting good governance and developing independent sources of expertise to assist policy makers in making the difficult choices that face all democratic governments.  Democracies like the United States and Lithuania cannot survive without the active involvement of individuals, foundations, institutions, and non-governmental organizations in public life.  The competing demands that all of these diverse elements introduce into political discourse are not a threat to democracy; they enrich and strengthen it.   

Lithuania today is a free country filled with great opportunity, thanks in part to the outstanding work of the many hundreds of civil society organizations that operate here.  They deserve tolerance, support and freedom to operate, not suspicion and baseless accusation.

Sincerely,

                                         

 

Stephen D. Mull