News

In Chicago, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas started his working visit to the U.S.A. On 7 March, the Minister met with members of the Lithuanian Community, representatives from the American Lithuanian media, visited Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, and talked to senior pupils of Lithuanian schools.

On the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary, head of the Lithuanian diplomacy honoured the American Lithuanian daily “Draugas” with the award ‘The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium’ for fostering the Lithuanian identity. The Minister also conferred ‘The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium’ to Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture for preserving the Lithuanian culture and history, and promoting the Lithuanian folk art in the U.S.A.

During conversations with the Lithuanian Community, the Minister discussed ways of implementing the strategy of Global Lithuania. This strategy aims for the integrity of the nation, for the Lithuanians abroad to get completely involved into the life of the state and the adaptation of the Lithuanian state’s policy to the conditions of globalisation.

“The creation of Global Lithuania should be a task not only to the Lithuanian state, but also to all the Lithuanians abroad,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy acquainted the American Lithuanians with the initiative to establish the Council for the Affairs of Lithuanians Abroad, where Lithuanians abroad and members of the Lithuanian Government would be chaired by the Prime Minister and would discuss strategic issues related to the affairs of the Lithuanians abroad. The Minister also informed about the plans to reform the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania by establishing the Department of Lithuanians Abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister and the representatives from the U.S. Lithuanian Community exchanged opinions on better ways to satisfy the needs of the American Lithuanians: how to improve Lithuania’s Consular Service, how to cherish the Lithuanian language, traditions, history and to transmit all these values to future generations of Lithuanians living abroad, how to solve the issue of the citizenship.

V.Ušackas congratulated the American Lithuanians on the upcoming Day of Re-establishment of the Independence of Lithuania and thanked communities and organisations of Lithuanians abroad that fostered the Lithuanian identity and had fought for the Independence of Lithuania, established the Lithuanian houses, churches and schools, guaranteed the continuity of Lithuania’s representation.

 “On the occasion of the 11th of March, I would like to take an opportunity to wish us all to preserve, cherish and foster what we have inherited from our parents and grandparents – the love of Lithuania, respect to its history and traditions, and faith in the power of unity,” said V.Ušackas, congratulating Lithuanians abroad on the occasion of the Day of Re-establishment of the Independence of Lithuania.

On 8 March in Chicago, the Minister also met with head of the World Lithuanian Community Regina Narušienė and took part in the celebration of the 11th of March.