Sąjūdis, universitetas, kariuomenė

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos persitvarkymo sąjūdis; Kultūrų kaita; Klaipėdos universitetas; Lithuanian reconstruction movement; Change of cultures; University of Klaipeda.

ENIn 1988-1993, several simultaneous processes took place in the City of Klaipėda: the formation of a new political system inspired by Sąjūdis; the establishment of the University; and the actions of the supporters of the old system, the military personnel stationed in Klaipėda, which abated only after a failed coup in Moscow in the August of 1991. In the context of the ideas of perestroika and glasnost, the idea of Klaipėda needing a local university was first voiced by historian Vytautas Plečkaitis on 29 September 1988, in the meeting of the steering group of the Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sąjūdis) with the population of Klaipėda. Coincidentally, in the period of establishment of Klaipėda University, people active in the local steering group of Sąjūdis worked in Klaipėda branches of higher educational institutions or in research institutions, and primarily in the Klaipėda Faculties of the Lithuanian State Conservatoire established in 1971. The idea of the establishment of Klaipėda University, supported by the representatives of local authorities, was raised more than once over the year 1989. It was finalized after a scientific conference Klaipėda University: Ideas, Problems, and Urgent Issues on 17 November 1989, the participants of which appealed to the Lithuanian public and the authorities of the Lithuanian SSR for the establishment of Klaipėda University by merging the faculties of higher schools already functioning in Klaipėda. On the resolution of the Supreme Council of the Lithuania, Klaipėda University was established on January 1,1991.The university in Klaipėda was established at the same time when the peripeteia of Lithuania’s separation from the USSR, after the former had declared its independence in March 1990, was taking place, and national tensions threatened to escalate into serious clashes. The deadlock in the relations of Vilnius and Moscow and instability remained until August 1991. A great achievement of Lithuania was a schedule of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Lithuania signed in Moscow on 8 September 1992. An agreement was made about the first Russian troops leaving as early as in October, and the final withdrawal completed on 31 August 1993. The agreement started a new life stage of Klaipėda Cantonment which ended with the withdrawal of Russian troops from Klaipėda barracks and the transfer of the barracks to the Republic of Lithuania. However, the 3rd Coast Guard Division was not withdrawn from Klaipėda: it was disbanded there. On 27 November 1992, the Lithuanian Government resolved to transfer Cantonment No. 1 to the Lithuanian National Defence Ministry. At the same time, Klaipėda University located in the rented buildings or those belonging to the former branches of higher educational institutions looked for an opportunity to take charge of the Cantonment. Stasys Vaitekūnas, elected Rector in June 1993, immediately started negotiating the matter with the Prime Minister of Lithuania and the Minister of National Defence. In the implementation of the idea, the new administration of the University was supported by Klaipėda City authorities. Finally, on 30 August 1993, the representatives of the Russian Army transferred the Cantonment with the “red” barracks specifically to Klaipėda University, and a bit later, on 17 September, a formal resolution of the Lithuanian Government legitimated the transfer.Since then, Klaipėda University has been trying to adjust the area to the needs of studies and research and to revive the old barracks ensemble; the garages and storehouses that were built after WWII were first rented to small businessmen, and in the last decade, they were disassembled, and new buildings of the University, student dormitories, and other infrastructure were designed for that area. On 28 February 1996, during the celebration of the 5th anniversary of Klaipėda University, the first of the six neo-gothical buildings of the ensemble - the Faculty of Natural Sciences - was inaugurated. During the commemoration of the 20th anniversary, the University enjoyed all six surviving and renovated buildings of the ensemble. In March 2009, the restoration works of the 6th neo-gothical building were finished, and a clock tower in the building was rebuilt. That last building of the old barracks of Klaipėda housed the Institute of Baltic Sea Region History and Archaeology. The restoration of the buildings was funded by the Lithuanian state budget, with the co-financing from private sponsors, patrons, and public funds. The continuing adjustment of the space of the former Klaipėda Cantonment to the needs of the University is a unique phenomenon in Lithuania. [From the publication]