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On 19 October, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius officially opened the Honorary Consulate of Lithuania in Bogotá.

“Today, we witness an extraordinary event in the history of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Colombia – the re-opening of the Consulate of Lithuania. Undoubtedly, this institution will become a cradle of the Lithuanian national identity in Colombia, will help maintain and strengthen friendly relations between the countries,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister.

During the Soviet occupation, Colombia did not recognise de jure Lithuania’s incorporation into the Soviet Union, the Honorary Consul General Stasys Sirutis worked in this country. From 1999 to 1 March 2015, Laima Grigaliūnas de Didžiulis served as Lithuania’s Honorary Consul in Colombia.

During the ceremony, Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister thanked the former Honorary Consul General “for invaluable long-term work representing Lithuania and mobilizing the Lithuanian community in Colombia”. Bekešius welcomed the new Lithuanian Honorary Consul, businessman Enrique Durana Concha, who was appointed on 6 June.

“I am pleased to see such an active and enthusiastic representative of Lithuania in Colombia. We highly appreciate your work and assistance to Lithuania that you have provided already,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister.

The Honorary Consul has been involved in activities of the Lithuanian community in Colombia for several decades. His spouse Barbara Rimgaila has a Lithuanian background. She is a former lecturer at the Bogotá University and has translated a book titled “In the Land of Eternal Winter („Amžino įšalo žemėje“) into the Spanish language.

When opening the Honorary Consulate, Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister welcomed the historic Colombian peace process and voiced his full support of the long-term peace. “Hopefully, the commitments to peace will soon bring peace to the country and ensure stability in the region,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister.

The opening ceremony was attended by a group of distinguished guests, including the famous political and public figure, philosopher, former Mayor of Bogotá Antanas Mockus, former Lithuanian Honorary Consul in Colombia Grigaliūnas de Didžiulis, other Lithuanians living in Colombia and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the media.

Lithuania and Colombia established their diplomatic relations on 5 August 1993. Currently, Lithuania has not accredited its Ambassador to Colombia. The Colombian Embassy in Warsaw is accredited to Lithuania.