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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the collapse of communism in Europe. On 23 August 1989, more than two months before the Fall of Berlin Wall, almost two million Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians held each others hands on the human chain which connected Vilnius to Riga and Tallinn reminding the world of their existence. It was a triumph of democratic self-determination on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and a demonstration of the power of unity, cooperation, and commitment in the face of enormous adversity.In order to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which divided Eastern and Central Europe between the Soviet Union and Germany, they joined hands in a human chain spanning over 600 kilometres. This massive peaceful demonstration took place far behind the Berlin Wall, in the then Soviet-occupied countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It was named the Baltic Way and carried a clear message to the world that Europe could not be free without the freedom of the peoples in the Baltic States. The Berlin Wall divided people, but it was the Baltic Way which united them.This year commemorates the 20th anniversary of this remarkable event, reminding of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which not only changed the course of history of the Baltic States, but sealed the fate of all of Europe and the world for decades to come.It is often said that the Baltic Way sped up the process of the disintegration of the entire Soviet system. On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and by the end of 1989 all the Soviet satellites had gained full sovereignty. Subsequently, Lithuania declared its independence on 11 March 1990, and Latvia and Estonia followed suit.  The importance of the Baltic Way is indisputable as it is one of the most significant symbols of liberation in Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore justly, on 30 July 2009, it has been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.Photo exhibition “A Message to the World. The Baltic Way: Twenty Years On”(as part of Goethe-Institut Japan events related to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall)Duration: 9 (Mon) to 15 (Sun) NovemberVenue: Goethe-Institut Japan,           7-5-56 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, tel. 03-3584-3201For more information: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, tel. 03-3408-5091

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the collapse of communism in Europe. On 23 August 1989, more than two months before the Fall of Berlin Wall, almost two million Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians held each others hands on the human chain which connected Vilnius to Riga and Tallinn reminding the world of their existence. It was a triumph of democratic self-determination on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and a demonstration of the power of unity, cooperation, and commitment in the face of enormous adversity.

In order to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which divided Eastern and Central Europe between the Soviet Union and Germany, they joined hands in a human chain spanning over 600 kilometres. This massive peaceful demonstration took place far behind the Berlin Wall, in the then Soviet-occupied countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It was named the Baltic Way and carried a clear message to the world that Europe could not be free without the freedom of the peoples in the Baltic States. The Berlin Wall divided people, but it was the Baltic Way which united them.

This year commemorates the 20th anniversary of this remarkable event, reminding of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which not only changed the course of history of the Baltic States, but sealed the fate of all of Europe and the world for decades to come.

It is often said that the Baltic Way sped up the process of the disintegration of the entire Soviet system. On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and by the end of 1989 all the Soviet satellites had gained full sovereignty. Subsequently, Lithuania declared its independence on 11 March 1990, and Latvia and Estonia followed suit.

  

The importance of the Baltic Way is indisputable as it is one of the most significant symbols of liberation in Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore justly, on 30 July 2009, it has been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Photo exhibition “A Message to the World. The Baltic Way: Twenty Years On”
(as part of Goethe-Institut Japan events related to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall)

Duration: 9 (Mon) to 15 (Sun) November
Venue: Goethe-Institut Japan,
           7-5-56 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, tel. 03-3584-3201

For more information: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, tel. 03-3408-5091