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On 4 February in Munich, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis conferred the award of honour of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Lithuanian Diplomacy Star – on human rights defender and one of the founders of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group Eitanas Finkelšteinas and the first German Ambassador to Lithuania Gottfried Albrecht.When conferring an award on G.Albrecht, who was Ambassador to Lithuania from 1991 to 1992, the minister stressed that the appointment of European Ambassadors to Lithuania at that time was particularly important aiming to conquer the international arena.

According to Ažubalis, one of the largest countries in Europe – Germany - was among the first to take this step.

When congratulating E.Finkelšteinas, the minister said that at that time his activities were very important not only for Lithuania, but also for promoting democratic forces in Russia. The name of Finkelšteinas and his contacts helped other human rights defenders to receive support and to establish contacts with the affinity group in Russia.

On 3-4 February, Ažubalis took part in the 48th Munich Security Conference, during which the participants discussed new energy security parameters, the establishment of security community in Europe, the financial crisis and its impact on international security, nuclear disarmament, the future of the European Union and NATO, and the situation in the Middle East. On 5 February, in Plön, Northern Germany, the Minister is taking part in the foreign ministers meeting of the Baltic Sea states dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the CBSS. The meeting will also focus on prospects for further activities.