H.E. Vladimir Jarmolenko, Ambassador of Lithuania in Bucharest

1000th Official Birthday of Lithuania and 91st Anniversary of Lithuanian Independence

The 16th of February is a very special day for Lithuania being celebrated the most important National Holiday – the restoration of the Lithuanian independent statehood of 1918. This year we do mark 91 years from the declaration of our independence.

2009 has a very special meaning for Lithuania, as the country will be celebrating the Millennium anniversary of its name, since when it was mentioned the first time in German Chronicles under the name of Lithuania. Also in 2009 Vilnius became the European Capital of Culture The 20th century history was quite difficult, our people lived through occupations and annexations, the death of freedom fighters and mass deportations, falsified historical facts and repeated attempts to be stripped of national identity. After a long period of occupation we restored our independence on March 11th, 1990.

Afterwards the diplomatic relations between our countries were re-established by opening in 1992 an Embassy of Romania in Vilnius, and in 2006 – an Embassy of Lithuania in Bucha­rest. During the time, the relations between our countries continued to intensify, especially given the fact that both became members of European Union and North Atlantic Alliance. Romania and Lithuania have truly good bilateral relations based on common views, goals and mutual understanding. In 2008 there were many Lithuanian official delegations coming to Romania, and we expect this year to have Romanian official delegations visiting Lithuania.

Our countries are interested in consolidating democracy in the entire region from the Baltic to the Black Seas and aim at securing the region by democratization and economic development. We hope Romania and Lithuania will continue to have common position within the EU as it happened during the politically difficult last year. In addition we both have to confront the global economic crisis. Promotion of Lithuanian culture in Romania and facilitating the artistic exchange between our countries remain on our priorities’ list. As such in 2008 we had performances of the best Lithuanina theatre directors, Eimuntas Nekrosius and Oskaras Korsu­novas, in the framework of international festivals, had Lithuanian graphic artists taking part in International Experimental En­gra­­ving Biennial, as well as graphic works exposed in Romania. This year on the occasion of the National Day we organize at “Cantacuzino Palace” a concert of in which one will perform a Romanian-Lithuanian family of musicians/singers, Egle and Vasile Chisiu. The priorities of our Embassy are those of classical diplomacy, activity that will contribute to the development of Romanian-Lithuanian relations.

We also try to pay more attention to economical aspects, attrac­ting Lithuanian investors to Ro­mania and the Romanian inves­tors to Lithuania.

Another important aspect of our activity is that of discovering Romania for Lithua­nians and Lithuania for Roma­nians so as to improve the image we have about our countries. And this year I would especially invite Romanians to visit Lithuania given the fact that Vilnius is European Capital of Culture.