Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

2. Session /Séance. Regional (trans-border) Cooperation / Coopération régionale (transfrontaliere) - Rastas, Pirkko: Archival cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries / La coopération entre les pays Nordique et les pays baltes (english 161 - français 176)

2. Session/Séance: Rastas, Cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic Countries

Law of 13 February 1990, is a product of the late Soviet period; suitable parts of the law are still followed while a new law is being prepared.

1, 5 million archival units are kept in the Lithuanian Historical Archives. The oldest parchment documents date back to the 13th century. We were shown a very special parchment document, the foundation letter of the University in Vilna from the 1570s. The earliest continuous series of records dated back to the 15th century. In 1940 13 waggonloads of records were confiscated and transported to the Soviet Union. The oldest of these records dated back to the 18* century and contained information about the nobility. The Lithuanians have tried to get these records back, but the Russians have refused on the plea that they are now combined with other fonds of an unbreakable nature. The Nordic countries and ICA should press Russia to restore these records.

The atmosphere in Lithuania was optimistic and unreserved. Lithuania had, however, the same problems as the other Baltic countries. The Lithuanians hoped that international cooperation would give them more information about the western experiences and help them to develop records management. International evaluation was seen as a good idea. The English interpreter and archivist, Mrs Dangira Malikenaite had some time ago been granted a scholarship and spent four months in Sweden. She considered it to be a good system. Our Lithuanian hosts were also hoping for an invitation to Finland6.

4. 4. Summary

The archival institutions of all Baltic countries are under great pressure as they are expected to deliver the certificates based on archival sources that are needed for the returning of private property.

The Baltic archives have obtained all their archival information through Moscow. The periodical Archivum arrived in Estonia after 2 or 3 years delay, while Janus was a completely unknown publication. Archival literature in English, French or German is now needed. The archives should for instance get every possible RAMP-study. It is particularly vital that these countries get Eric Ketelaar’s RAMP-study on archival laws when every country is developing its own archival laws.

It was also considered important to get international archival experts to evaluate the present state of archival institutions and the need for development. The evaluation could be used for putting pressure on the politicians; this aspect was considered particularly important in Latvia where the archival institution is directly subordinate to a parliament that does not appreciate the archival authorities or appropriate enough resources. The parliament has not for instance appropriated funds for payment of the ICA membership fee. The Head of the Lithuanian archival institution mentioned the evaluation on his own initiative. He had just entered his

6 Cf. the report by Sten Körner (as above note 2) and the article by Peep P i 11 a k (as above note 4). Cf. also Grimsted, Patricia Kennedy: Archives and Manuscript Repositories in the USSR, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Belorussia. Princeton University, New Jersey 1981.

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