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In 1990-1991, during the difficult for Lithuania period, Austrian parliamentarians, members of government, prominent intellectuals and artists supported the independence of Lithuania in various ways, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė said at event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of Lithuanian and Austrian diplomatic relations in Vilnius.

According to her, the partnership between Lithuania and the Federal Province of Salzburg that lasts over 40 years is a unique example of close regional cooperation.

 “Namely the Landtag of Salzburg addressed the Austrian Federal Government requesting to recognize Lithuania’s restored Independence,” the Vice-Minister said.

According to the Vice-Minister, Lithuania and Austria have always enjoyed close relations, as mother of Casimir, the patron saint of Lithuania, Elizabeth von Habsburg was a Princess of Austria and Lithuanian diplomats learnt the art of diplomacy at the Habsburg court.

The Vice-Minister A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė also mentioned the day’s initiative to honour the memory of the Austrian born Vermacht Sergeant Anton Schmid, who saved hundreds of Jews from the Vilna Ghetto and was shot upon disclosure. A memorial plaque to A.Schmid will be unveiled in Antakalnis cemetery this year.

During the commemoration, Austrian Ambassador to Lithuania Helmut Koller underlined that the EU member states - Lithuania and Austria - shared many interests.

“For example, now it is the new Common Agricultural Policy and safety of the nuclear power plants that are being constructed not far from our state border,” the diplomat said.

Lithuania and Austria re-established diplomatic relations on 28 August 1991. Since 1970, Lithuania has maintained intensive partnership relationship with the Federal Land of Salzburg. In 1984, this partnership was strengthened through the agreement on cultural cooperation between the cities of Vilnius and Salzburg.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and the country of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other famous composers, the Austrian string quartet Artis Quartet gave a concert at the Museum of Applied Art in Vilnius and performed musical works by such Austrian composers as Joseph Haydn, Alexander Zemlinsky and Johannes Brahms.