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During the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the three Baltic States and Norway at the Norwegian Nobel Institute on 8 June, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas thanked Norway for its support to Lithuania and noted that a very special location was chosen to mark the anniversary.

“We are symbolically celebrating the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations here, in the Nobel Hall, where, according to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Norwegian Nobel Committee every year decides who had best enhanced the brotherhood of people, peace and disarmament,” E.Meilūnas said.

In his speech, the Vice-Minister highlighted aspects of energy security in the Baltic States and stressed that the countries were still an isolated energy island.

“In order to achieve our energy independence, we need to establish links between the Baltic-Nordic States and Western European energy markets, and to implement new energy generation capacity projects. Norway, as an important supplier of energy resources, could play a significant role in this process,” the Vice-Minister said.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had invited his counterparts from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the Baltic and Norway in Oslo.

He noted in his congratulatory speech, that the Nordic-Baltic region should be more visible and should play a greater role in key international institutions, because this region was the ninth world economy.

J.G.Støre also said that out of fifteen member states of the European Union with which Norway co-operates within the European Economic Area and Norwegian financial mechanisms, the Baltic States were among Norway’s most popular partners.

Baltic and Norwegian diplomats assessed their cooperation very positively and expressed hope that it will be even more intensive and stronger in the future.

Lithuania and Norway re-established diplomatic relations on 27 August 1991.