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Geneva, 2002 03 05Distinguished members of the Committee,Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to present the initial report of the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with Article 9 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. “Racism is an ailment of the mind and soul, which has killed many more people than some diseases, and dehumanised all those it has touched” was noted by Mr. Nelson Mandela, the former President of the Republic of South Africa at the opening ceremony of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, 2001. He said this about one of the most disgraceful phenomenon, which we face and which we attempt to eradicate by different means. And in my opinion Lithuania is an active participant in of the process of making it a thing of the past.Lithuania is a country, which might be called a national state, as the majority of people living here are Lithuanians. However, this is a country, which is also a home for people of many other national and ethic groups, and it has been as such for many centuries. The input these peoples made in different spheres is an important value and is considered as indispensable part of the heritage we have. This has been always realized in Lithuania and the attempts were made to provide for the best relations between all peoples living in the country. And it is also true today, when all attempts are made in allowing everyone living in Lithuania feel at home without any discomfort caused by differences as to what racial, national or ethnic origin a person is. The Law on National Minorities was adopted in Lithuania in 1989 providing main rules for relations between the national minorities and the state. It has been the first of this kind of legislation in Central and Eastern Europe with the main task to meet the national, social, cultural, and other needs of the national minorities and assist them in the preserving their ethnical identity. The work has not finished with the adoption of the law, but rather it has begun. The Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad functions in Lithuania with its competence to deal with different questions relating with issues of non-discrimination on national and ethnical grounds. Guarantying the rights of persons, belonging to national, ethnical, religious and language minorities, treasuring their identity together with integration into the political and cultural life of the state is one of the most important tasks and aims of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania has included in its Programme for 2001 – 2004 goals “to ensure the State support for cultural development of Lithuania’s national communities” and “to guarantee the freedom and independence of cultural activities for cultural communities, regions, and national communities”. By supporting culture of national minorities the State aims at the implementation of cultural rights of the Lithuanian citizens of other nationalities, at providing conditions for their involvement in the life of the country, at fostering their traditions and heritage.Ladies and Gentlemen,The state also realizes that there is no present without the past, as forgetting the past, people or peoples are condemned to live it all over again. By saying that I refer to the most painful issue of the Holocaust. The state takes steps not only remedying the situation from the past, but it also looks forward to educating the young generation. The issues of the Holocaust are included in the textbooks as well as into the university curriculum. In order to get rid of the burden of old stereotypes a comprehensive Lithuanian National Holocaust Education programme has been developed in April 2000. In this context I would like to mention the International Vilnius Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets, which was held in Vilnius in October 2000. This programme is aimed at uniting initiatives of the public and the state, thereby fostering cooperation of the Lithuanian authorities, NGOs and various foundations in the field of the Holocaust and the history of the Lithuanian Jews. And what is immensely important, it will strengthen intolerance to discrimination, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the society. Furthermore, in January of this year Lithuania handed over to Israel more than 300 torahs, which were saved during the Second World War.The present day activities continue in the same atmosphere of integrating people of different nationalities in all spheres of life in Lithuania and at the same time treasuring their national or ethnical origin. In order to achieve this, Lithuania develops general and comprehensive legislation involving provisions prohibiting discrimination. In this connection I would like to emphasize that the laws might contain the most extensive provisions on the issues of human rights as well as on any other issues, however they will be completely useless if not implemented properly. Even more, they will cause huge damage to the legal order of the state and confidence of people in its authority. Following with desire to continue adopting laws consistent with present human rights requirements and them properly implement, Lithuania is participating in the HURIST programme of the UN Development Programme together with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Lithuania is participating in one of the five windows of the programme and the development of the project entitled Support to development of National action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights. It is expected to be completed until the end of August 2002. During the project the major evaluation of the human rights situation in Lithuanian will be carried out and following the results of such study a Human Rights Action Plan will be developed. Following the completion of the project it is expected that a consistent system of monitoring human rights situation in Lithuania will be created. Regular reporting on implementation of the plan, updating the plan and invoking national debates will allow for further development of the state policies and action in protecting human rights, as well as enjoyment of these rights by the people and peoples.Lithuania has also addresses the issues concerned with the Roma people. On July 1, 2000 the Government of Lithuania approved a Programme for the Integration of the Roma in the Lithuanian Society for 2000 – 2004. This Programme created conditions for persons belonging to this minority to integrate into the public life and at the same time to provide ways and methods for preserving and fostering the national character of the Roma people in the light of their living habits. With this aim in mind the Roma Community Centre was opened in August 2001, which provides pre-school education, supplementary teaching of children, the Lithuanian language courses etc. One more step or action towards the future without any discrimination is participation of Lithuania in and taking part in organizing of different international events. The International Conference on Dialogue Among Civilizations took place in Vilnius in April 2001. It was organized together with UNESCO as part of the United Nations Year for Dialogue Among Civilizations. The discussions on complex issues of culture and civilization in the contemporary world provided for development of an idea of complimentary notion of civilizations. For scholars, artist, and, of course, politicians the conference was an excellent opportunity to talk about many peoples in our one world and the humanity itself. The Vilnius Declaration adopted at the conference provided for a set of ideas on which we may base our further actions and activities in eradicating differences and more thinking about the reasons for us all being and feeling together. As H.E. Mr. Valdas Adamkus, the President of Lithuania in his statement at the Conference stated, that “it is gratifying that Lithuania <…> today can become the venue of dialogue among civilizations and make its modest contribution to building confidence among people and nations, and strengthening the traditions of mutual respect and tolerance in the twenty-first century”. One of the major international impetus for further activities in developing our societies in a way of eradication of any discrimination, marginalization or social exclusion of national, ethnical or racial groups was the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Declaration and the Plan of Action of this Conference provide for new further actions and developments. It is a path to building a reconciled world and Lithuania is determined to follow it.This direction is continued through the Lithuanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Lithuanian Programme for the Chairmanship includes support for the role of the Council of Europe in defining, shaping and enforcing of human rights protection in Europe on a non-discriminatory basis. Distinguished members of the Committee,I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the present Report to the United Nations was submitted in 2000, while during two recent years Lithuania has been actively involved in securing human rights, adopting a number of new acts of law or making relevant amendments to the existing ones. Therefore, I would like to present to the Committee the additional and updated information in connection with the implementation of the provisions under the Convention in the Republic of Lithuania.In this connection I would like to note that the Seimas (the Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania has adopted a new Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania that became effective on 1 July 2001. A new Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania, adopted by the Seimas on 26 September 2000, will become effective together with a new Code of Criminal Procedure, draft version whereof is currently discussed by the Seimas. Also, I would like to point out that the new Criminal Code has been supplemented with a number of new articles that establish the responsibility for crimes based on racial discrimination.Also, the Code of Civil Procedure was adopted on February 28, 2002 and will enter into force on July 1, 2002. The Draft Labour Code has been submitted to the Seimas for deliberation. One of the principles contained in this draft provides for equality of persons in labour relations irrespective of any circumstances unrelated to the professional qualifications of employees, such as of their gender, race, nationality, language, origin, citizenship, religion etc. Distinguished members of the Committee,In conclusion let me to thank for your attention and to inform the members of the Committee that the more elaborate information in the connection with the implementation of the provisions of the Convention you will find in the materials distributed. Also, the delegation and myself are ready to answer the questions you might have.