News

On 5 September, at 16:00 h., an exhibition called ‘White Gloves: Official and Unofficial Diplomacy in Kaunas in 1918-1940’ will open at the historical Office of the President in Kaunas. On 5 September 2008, we are celebrating the 110th anniversary of the birth of Stasys Lozoraitis (1898–1983), whom we call the chief of Lithuania’s diplomacy. Sixteenth of February this year also marks the 90th anniversary of Declaration of Independence in 1918. The exhibition reflects official activities of diplomats: intergovernmental agreements, photos of the ceremonies of presentation of credentials, official meetings and state celebrations.

The exposition in two halls of the historical Office of the President is dedicated to Lithuanian diplomatic missions abroad, to the activity of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1918–1940 and to the chief of the Lithuanian diplomacy Stasys Lozoraitis.

Photos of receptions and hunts that were organised during the unofficial meetings of high-ranking officials, cartoons, printings with funny stories, and some recollections about informal events are also on display at the exhibition.

The exhibition will be open from 5 September this year till 5 July 2009. Everyday working hours: 11:00-17:00 h. It is closed on Mondays.

The exhibition is organised by the historical Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania in Kaunas with partners: the Lithuanian Central State Archives, Vytautas the Great War Museum and the Lozoraitis Family Museum. Sponsors of the exhibition are: Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kaunas City Municipality, Sport and Culture Support Foundation, the Embassies of Italy and of the Republic of Poland, Centre of French Culture. The exhibition was organised also in cooperation with the British Embassy and the German Embassy.

This year, Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also marks the 90th anniversary of its establishment on 11 November 1918. On this occasion in November at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an exhibition on the history of the Lithuanian diplomacy will be organised. The exposition will include historical evidence for the origins of the Lithuanian diplomacy, diplomatic efforts to re-establish the statehood in the 19th century, and the interwar and modern Lithuanian diplomacy. The exhibition will consist of photos, documents, press, signs of diplomatic missions, seals and other paraphernalia of diplomats and Ambassadors.