At least we can comfort ourselves that Andres Tropp of Eesti Energia puts the blame for it on the investment climate in the EU rather than on Lithuania. But what difference does it make? The Estonian daily Postimees, which has published Tropp's position, says this is the first open statement that the Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant project is not worth our while. The Estonians do not believe in Lithuanian fairy tales.
Shall we go on without the Estonians? Perhaps only in our talks. In spare time after Vėsaitė's voyages. The Poles left the project awhile ago, now so did the Estonians – the nuclear power plant is as good as dead.
Well, unless the government decides to leave the entire country broke but have the nuclear power plant at any cost. But Lithuania is not North Korea. To do that, it would take thousands of those task groups so liked by Prime Minister Butkevičius.
But the point is not the nuclear plant. We do not work as a nation.
Have we ever stood a chance of building a nuclear power plant in the first place? From the very start, both politicians and the society only cared about picking on details. It was details that killed LEO LT – a breaking point in the nuclear non-construction. Lithuania lost valuable time. You cannot step into the same river twice. Russia made good use of the Zeitnot.
What's the most depressing thing about the situation? Not that we won't have a nuclear plant. It would be too much of a burden for our indebted, ageing, emigrating country, even if shared with Latvia and Estonia. The seven-year-long nuclear construction demonstrates how we are unable to come to an agreement. Not just unable – unwilling.
Everyone has heard stories about two Lithuanias – one of the elite and the other of everyone else. We are flattering ourselves. These are only two factions fighting each other in the ministries, their client businesses, even among the intellectuals; at most they could be compared to man-made satellites: objects neither of the Earth, nor of space.
Both groups believe that the only way for them to remain in their orbits is by leaving the political opponent broke. It is almost a Marxist law: the further we move from the 11 March 1990, the more terrifying the internal enemies come to seem. The conservatives and President Grybauskaitė had exulted over the defeated social democratic lion (LEO LT). The social democrats now giggle as they bury Hitachi.
But the point is not the nuclear plant. We do not work as a nation. As a state. We fail to see a purpose beyond our back yards. There is no one to show us the purpose.
What would have happened, had, in 1392, Jogaila decidd not to give Lithuania to Vytautas, who had just been pillaging Kernavė and Vilnius with the Teutonic Knights? Jogaila could have had his revenge. After all, such would have been the customary thing to do at the time. But he did not. He realized that Lithuania was impossible without Vytautas. That everything would crumble.
Thanks to these two men, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland reached the zenith of their historic power. The two cousins could see the essence of the matter. And ignore the small details, however unpleasant.
Modern Lithuania is drowning in details. It lacks professionals working for her good. Could we find some? Theoretically, yes. Practically? Who is going to look for them? Hero of our time Vėsaitė, who may not be the worst minister of all, but has become a patented symbol of regress? The minister of interior? Of communication? Of healthcare? The prime minister himself? Do you believe that? Happy are those who believe.
