Abstract

   The present status of Klein Litauen / Mažoji Lietuva / Lithuania Minor or the Koenigsberg / Karaliaučius / Kaliningrad region is not defined at the international level. The Soviet Union broke an agreement of the Potsdam Conference, namely its undertaking not to mark its western borders and not to incorporate Koenigsberg and adjacent area into the USSR in advance of the final peace settlement, which, in fact, never took place. In addition, the USSR no longer exists.

   The neighboring states of Lithuania, Poland and Germany, as well as the Scandinavian states, are deeply interested in the demilitarization of the region ... toliau

   Part 1

   OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIA MINOR

   Lithuania Minor is situated in the northeastern part of former East Prussia where it borders on Lithuania Major or Proper. The name was first used during the period of the Prussian Dukes; it was applied to those parts of the dukedom where the Lithuanian language was prevalent. This area coincided roughly with the territories of the ancient tribes of the Nodrovians, Skalvians and Sudovians. There is evidence to assume that in the 13th century, these lands were populated mainly by Lithuanians ... toliau

   Brussels, 2 April 2004

   Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues:

   This day is special for Lithuania. Seeing our flag raised at NATO Headquarters this morning marks one of the most remarkable moments in Lithuania’s history.

   It reminded me of October 1989, when our flag fluttered again, for the first time after 50 years of suppression, at the Gediminas Tower of our capital city Vilnius.

   It reminded me of September 1991, when our flag was raised in front of the United Nations building in New York city ... toliau

   The area, the hydronyms of which are to be scrutinized, consists of Lithuania Minor (q.v.), Samia (q.v.) and their bordering regions, i.e., the northern parts of the former Old Prussian tribes, their tribe-lands of Varmia (q.v.), Notangia (q.v.) and Bartia (q.v.). All Old Prussian tribe-lands to be designated as Tvanksta are now under Soviet administration.

   Lithuania Minor comprises most of the former historical regions of Nadravia (q.v.), Scalvia (q.v.) and Pilsotas (q.v.). In other words, the river basin of the river Prieglius (Pregel) and the lower reaches of the rivers Nemunas (Memel), Minija (Minge) and Danija (Dange) constitute the main part of the area to be examined ... toliau

   Twenty-four members of the National Council of Lithuania Minor met in Tilžė on 30 November 1918 and issued a Declaration known as the Act of Tilžė. As has been sharply observed by one of the most consistent modern-day servers of the will of Lithuania Minor, Vytautas Šilas – the Act contains only two but highly profound sentences:

    “Taking into consideration that all that exists has the right to be, and that we Lithuanians who live in Prussian Lithuania are in the majority in this region, we demand that Lithuania Minor would be united to Lithuania Major on the basis of the right to self-determination defined by Woodrow Wilson ... toliau