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On 14 November, Lithuanian diplomatic history exhibition “The Millennium diplomacy“ was opened at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. „This exhibition testifies: Lithuania takes root, and we are writing our history, a live history of Lithuanian nation, state and diplomacy“, said Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekūnas at the opening of the exhibition.

In thousand years, according to Minister P. Vaitiekūnas, Lithuania survived a lot of transformations. The 90th state anniversary, which Lithuania celebrated this spring, is only the peak of a large iceberg. Diplomacy has always been important - in good times, it was less visible, and in bad times - considerate as an opportunity for a positive change.

„This exhibition revives the memory and shows that we can teach our diplomats not only on the ground of a foreign history, but also on our long diplomatic history. Lithuania exists more than a thousand years. It will exist as long as we create it with love, pride and responsibility“, said the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

The Minister thanked the authors of the exhibition: Dr. Ramunė Šmigelskytė-Stukienė, Dr. Zita Medišauskienė, Doc. Dr. Sandra Grigaravičiūtė and Prof. Dr. Juozas Skirius, Doc. Dr. Česlovas Laurinavičius and Assoc. Dr. Ramūnas Trimakas, who prepared this exhibition with enthusiasm, as well as other contributors.

The Head of Lithuanian State restored on 11 March 1991, the Chairman of the Supreme Council (Reconstituent Seimas) Vytautas Landsbergis and the first Foreign Minister Algirdas Saudargas also gave opening speeches at the exhibition.

The exhibition „The millennium diplomacy“ is the first attempt of a general overview of Lithuanian diplomacy’s objectives and tasks at different historical periods, the formation of diplomatic service and its activities aimed at implementing of Lithuania's foreign policy.

The exhibition was compiled by using historical documents and photographs. The awards and gifts presented to Lithuanian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and state leaders by foreign countries will also be exhibited. Objects from Lithuanian diplomatic missions, exhibits, which reflect various diplomatic activities, will also be available at the exhibition.

Lithuanian Archives Department, the Central State Archive, the President's Office, the Office of the Seimas, the Lithuanian Art Museum, the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania, the National Library of Martynas Mažvydas, the Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences also helped to prepare the exhibition.