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On 17 March in Brussels, the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was celebrated at the European Parliament. The event was attended by the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, who delivered speeches highlighting the courage of the Lithuanian people in 1990, the path they had taken, the reforms that were implemented in the country and the present situation in Lithuania. According to H.Van Rompuy, when Lithuania’s independence was taken away in 1940, its citizens never lost their belief in freedom. Those who took part in the partisan resistance movement against the Soviet occupation from 1941 well into 1950’s believed in freedom and fought for it. In the speech, H.Van Rompuy also emphasized the historic significance of the 11th of March. In his opinion, the declaration of Independence on the 11 March 1990 was a historic event of major importance - a milestone for Lithuania on its path to political liberty. According to H.Van Rompuy, it was also a milestone for Europe in overcoming the divisions between West and East. H.Van Rompuy evaluated Lithuania’s significant progress in reforming the economy, and stressed that the Government of Lithuania tackled challenges of the current economic crisis very well. J.Buzek expressed satisfaction that twenty years after the declaration of Independence of the 11th March, Lithuania was a responsible and respected member of the European Union and NATO. “How lucky we all are to witness this extraordinary miracle of history, which would have been unimaginable several decades ago,” the President of the European Parliament said. J.Buzek underlined that he was fortunate and honoured to work side by side at the European Parliament with four signatories of the 11th March Independence Act: Vytautas Landsbergis, Laima Andrikienė, Justas Paleckis and Algirdas Saudargas. Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the European Union, Ambassador Rytis Martikonis called the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence an act of freedom and independence. “I trust that this was a sign of a great geopolitical turn towards human dignity, democratic legitimacy and historical justice,” Ambassador Rytis Martikonis said in his congratulations speech. The first Head of Lithuania after the restoration of Independence, Chairman of the Supreme Council (Reconstituent Seimas) V.Landsbergis reminded the participants of the event about the historical background of the 11th March. At the event which gathered together Members of the European Parliament, heads of EU institutions, diplomats and other friends of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Chamber Youth Choir Aidija (conductor Romualdas Gražinis) performed pieces by Lithuanian composers. A photo exhibition “For the Independence of Lithuania” was opened in cooperation with the Office of the Seimas (Parliament). Members of the European Parliament and visitors of the institution will have a possibility to view the exhibition for the whole week. The event dedicated to the anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was jointly organised by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union, Member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis and the Lithuanian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg.  

On 17 March in Brussels, the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was celebrated at the European Parliament. The event was attended by the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, who delivered speeches highlighting the courage of the Lithuanian people in 1990, the path they had taken, the reforms that were implemented in the country and the present situation in Lithuania.

According to H.Van Rompuy, when Lithuania’s independence was taken away in 1940, its citizens never lost their belief in freedom. Those who took part in the partisan resistance movement against the Soviet occupation from 1941 well into 1950’s believed in freedom and fought for it.

In the speech, H.Van Rompuy also emphasized the historic significance of the 11th of March. In his opinion, the declaration of Independence on the 11 March 1990 was a historic event of major importance - a milestone for Lithuania on its path to political liberty. According to H.Van Rompuy, it was also a milestone for Europe in overcoming the divisions between West and East.

H.Van Rompuy evaluated Lithuania’s significant progress in reforming the economy, and stressed that the Government of Lithuania tackled challenges of the current economic crisis very well.

J.Buzek expressed satisfaction that twenty years after the declaration of Independence of the 11th March, Lithuania was a responsible and respected member of the European Union and NATO. “How lucky we all are to witness this extraordinary miracle of history, which would have been unimaginable several decades ago,” the President of the European Parliament said. J.Buzek underlined that he was fortunate and honoured to work side by side at the European Parliament with four signatories of the 11th March Independence Act: Vytautas Landsbergis, Laima Andrikienė, Justas Paleckis and Algirdas Saudargas.

Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the European Union, Ambassador Rytis Martikonis called the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence an act of freedom and independence.

“I trust that this was a sign of a great geopolitical turn towards human dignity, democratic legitimacy and historical justice,” Ambassador Rytis Martikonis said in his congratulations speech.

The first Head of Lithuania after the restoration of Independence, Chairman of the Supreme Council (Reconstituent Seimas) V.Landsbergis reminded the participants of the event about the historical background of the 11th March.

At the event which gathered together Members of the European Parliament, heads of EU institutions, diplomats and other friends of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Chamber Youth Choir Aidija (conductor Romualdas Gražinis) performed pieces by Lithuanian composers. A photo exhibition “For the Independence of Lithuania” was opened in cooperation with the Office of the Seimas (Parliament). Members of the European Parliament and visitors of the institution will have a possibility to view the exhibition for the whole week.

The event dedicated to the anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was jointly organised by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union, Member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis and the Lithuanian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg.