The interview marks the first time former President Adamkus has spoken out against the foreign policies of his successor. Photo by the Baltic Development Forum.

VILNIUS — Former President Valdas Adamkus voiced his disquiet over Lithuania’s more-pragmatic approach in foreign policy toward Russia in an interview published this weekend, arguing that Lithuania can’t forget the past.

Lithuania’s changing stance toward Russia, initiated under Adamkus’ successor President Dalia Grybauskaitė, is designed to end the rift between the country and its former occupant. Besides encouraging economic ties, Lithuania is in a tight situation with Russian politically because it can’t afford to upset the energy giant because of its reliance on Russian gas.

In an interview with IQ magazine, The Economist’s Lithuanian language publication, Adamkus said that Lithuania seems too timid to speak up for itself in key matters regarding Russia.

“I do not agree with our current position. Does a better spoonful of food mean we forget 50 years of occupation of Lithuania? Have we forgotten that Russia carried out the killing and deportation policies that lost hundreds of thousands of compatriots?” Adamkus said in the interview.

Adamkus referred to the situation Lithuania finds itself in economically as blackmail. He said Lithuania needn’t kneel down and take whatever comes at them as Russia continues its imperialist policies.

He said that Russian policy had not changed since Tsarist times, though the facade of the government had changed several times.

“All Russian governments talk about political democratization — it is only a cover for new markets to conquer,” Adamkus said.

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