Budrys expresses his condolences on the death of the composer, Ambassador Osvaldas Balakauskas
On 15 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, expresses his condolences on the death of composer Osvaldas Balakauskas, the first Ambassador of the restored Republic of Lithuania to France. Balakauskas served as Lithuania’s Ambassador to France from 1991 to 1994 and was also accredited to Spain and Portugal from 1992 onward.
“Lithuania, having restored its independence, needed to assemble its own diplomatic corps. Diplomats who had served in the pre-war diplomatic corps and worked in exile were joined by prominent figures from social movements and the cultural sphere. One of them was composer Osvaldas Balakauskas. The Ambassador brought the best qualities of the Sąjūdis intellectuals to his service. In Paris, he united both generations of diplomats. Being exceptionally attentive to detail and responsible, he laid a solid foundation for the modern political and cultural partnership between Lithuania and France. We are grateful for his contribution to the restoration of Lithuanian statehood,” says Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
In 1996, Balakauskas received the Lithuanian National Prize, and in 1999, he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
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