What a pleasure it is to see your paper taking more of an interest in events in Lithuania and the Baltic countries. Seeing two articles in your paper on the same day makes us feel twice blessed. At least it would if not for one item in the article titled: ”50,000 in Lithuania protest language law.”
As one of 200,000 Chicagoans of Lithuanian descent, I was quite dismayed to see the Republic of Lithuania referred to as ”Soviet Lithuania.”
Lithuania is one country and the Soviet Union is another.
Lithuania was occupied and ”annexed” to the Soviet Union during World War II, based upon the Hitler-Stalin pact and some sham elections. No, this is not a fait accompli, recognized by everyone, or long-forgotten history. This illegal occupation has not been recognized by the U.S., Brazil or Germany as official policy. Canada, Uruguay and France also recognize the independence and sovereignty of this country. The passports are accepted by many nations, including Japan.
Your label reflects the official policy of the Soviet Union, not that of the United States or most Western countries (even communist Yugoslavia).
I ask that the next time you print news from this area of the world, you call it Soviet-occupied Lithuania, as most of the world, including, of course, their own citizens, recognize it.
