Future of Europe discussed in Vilnius on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the International Recognition of the Reinstated Republic of Lithuania
Created 2016-09-16
On 15 September, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the International Recognition and the Membership of the United Nations of the Reinstated Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania organized a conference “Europe Whole, Free and at Peace – 2040”, which took place in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
More than 200 guests were welcomed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Dalia Grybauskaitė and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mr Linas Linkevičius, whereas the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Mr Michael Møller delivered an opening address to Lithuania on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr Ban Ki-moon.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis emphasized that we should not forget the part of Europe which is still neither free nor peaceful. During a special presidential discussion with the Lithuanian and Polish Presidents, President Valdas Adamkus and President Aleksander Kwaśniewski encouraged to learn from the great recent history of Lithuania and Poland cooperation. It was highlighted that by supporting one another, as Poland supported Lithuania‘s aspirations in the course of its accession to NATO, it is possible to achieve much more.
Many famous politicians and thinkers expressed their thoughts and participated in the discussion, including the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace H.Em. Cardinal Peter Turkson; Economist, Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Robert Shiller; Former European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Mr Štefan Füle; Former Foreign Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Kingdom Sir Malcolm Rifkind.
During the two sessions it was discussed that despite the crises Europe faces, it is our duty to transform these challenges into energy which induces further development of the EU. 60 years ago, the joint European project was already projected as based on two cornerstones – peace and cooperation, therefore current internal and external attempts to change the order firstly are to be assessed by raising a question if they contribute to the strengthening of the said fundamental principles.
The conference was completed with the Forum of Lithuanian Foreign Ministers “Lithuania in the International Politics: 25 Years of Restored Diplomatic Relations”, during which the host at Lithuanian National Radio and Television Ms Rita Miliūtė discussed how far Lithuania has come and what are the challenges of today together with the Lithuanian Ministers of Foreign Affairs Mr Linas Linkevičius, Mr Algirdas Saudargas, Mr Antanas Valionis, Mr Petras Vaitiekūnas, Mr Vygaudas Ušackas and Mr Audronius Ažubalis.
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