The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

taking into consideration the fact that 2011 will mark the anniversary of the events of 1941 and 1991 which were especially painful for Lithuania;

emphasizing the losses of the Lithuanian population in 1941 and 1991;

being aware of the particular significance of those events on the pathway of the State of Lithuania;

appreciating the support of the worldwide community in defending and strengthening the re-established independence of Lithuania in 1991, r e s o l v e s :

Article 1.

To proclaim 2011 the Year of the Defence of Freedom and the Remembrance of Great Losses.

Article 2.

To charge the Commission for Research on the History of the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania and Observance of Commemorative Dates with the task of drawing up, in cooperation with other state institutions, a programme of the Year of the Defence of Freedom and the Remembrance of Great Losses and coordinating its implementation.

Article 3.

To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to earmark funds for the implementation of the programme of the Year of the Defence of Freedom and the Remembrance of Great Losses.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS                                                                        Irena Degutienė