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It is my utmost pleasure to address the readers of The Japan Times on the happy occasion of the 89th anniversary of the restoration of the State of Lithuania.

Perhaps only a few of you know that in a couple of years, my country will celebrate the millenium since the first recorded mention of Lithuania was made in 1009 in the Quedlinburg Annals.

In 1253, Lithuania became a kingdom, and from 1392 to 1430 was the largest state in Europe, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

In 1990, after 50 years of Soviet control, which was a consequence of the 1939 trade-off between Hitler and Stalin, Lithuania re-established its independence. Since then, in a relatively short period of 15 years, Lithuania has made great progress in restoring its international role as an independent state. And it entered a new era in 2004 when it joined the European Union, gaining the necessary diplomatic leverage to participate in world politics.

There is no doubt that Lithuania and Japan have always enjoyed good relations.

Albeit short, the pre-war history of bilateral relations was rather prolific.

Bilateral pacts included the Agreement on Abolition of Visas (1929) and the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation (1930).

Last but not least, in 1939-1940 Lithuania was home to the Japanese Vice Consul Chiune Sugihara who saved a few thousand Jewish people from the Holocaust.

Although relations between Lithuania and Japan were officially restored in 1991, it was not until Lithuania joined the EU that these relations began to produce substantial results.

I have no doubt that the first ever visit by a Japanese foreign minister to Lithuania last year paved the way to the epoch-making visit of Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko scheduled for this coming May, which will highlight the rise in the Lithuania-Japan ties. And the decision to appoint a resident Japanese ambassador to Vilnius will certainly add the missing link in the relationship.

Moreover, both states have entered a new stage of relations through EU-Japan dialogue.

I am confident that the interactions in various fields and formats will all play an important role in deepening mutual knowledge between Lithuania and Japan.

By DAINIUS KAMAITIS
Ambassador of Lithuania