BNS: 2009 declared by Lithuanian parlt 20 year anniversary of 'Baltic Way'
Updated 2009-01-15
VILNIUS, Jan 15, BNS - The Lithuanian Seimas declared this year to be the 20th anniversary since the joining of a human chain - the Baltic Way. Year 2009 was previously given the title of a millennium since the first mention of Lithuania's name.
MPs noted this move to be one made in view of marking a meaningful anniversary in the history of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and underlining the spiritual, emotional and political significance of the Baltic Way in the reestablishment of the Baltic countries.
The Baltic Way was a 650 kilometers-long human chain which was assembled on Aug. 23 joining three Baltic capitals, namely Vilnius, Riga and Tallin 1989 in commemoration of 50 years since the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which led to the occupation of the Baltic States.
The Seimas last Dec had declared 2009 the year of commemorating a millennium since the first mention of Lithuania.
Lithuania's name was first recorded in written sources in 1009 in chronicles of Quedlinburg of Upper Saxony telling a narrative of the death of Saint Bruno of Querfurt on the border of Russia and Lithuania (or Lithuania, Prussia and Kiyvan Rus).
