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On 23 May during the seminar “Integration and Identity in the Baltic Sea Region: Fifteen Years of Nordic-Lithuanian cooperation” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis noted that the Nordic States were among the first ones that believed in Lithuania’s success and helped our state to return to the family of  European and world states.

 “Lithuania thanks for substantial assistance for our state, for shared experience, for shown attention, for aiming at strengthening unity and prosperity of the whole region, for helping us on our way to the European Union and NATO,” Foreign Minister Valionis said.

According to the Minister, the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Vilnius, established 15 years ago, helped Lithuania to acquire experience of Nordic governance, municipality functioning and activities of communities and non-governmental organizations, to educate not only public officers but also young businessmen, scientists, students and artists.

The Minister emphasised that today Lithuania together with Baltic and Nordic neighbours is ready to share cooperation experience with Eastern neighbours.

“Lithuania that has until now only received the assistance of the Nordic States, today can cooperate as an equal partner,” Mr Valionis said.

According to the Minister, lately one of the most important projects has been the assistance to the European Humanitarian University.

Talking about the future Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that aiming at turning the Baltic Sea region a centre of attraction for a new Europe, we should strengthen the ties between the eight Nordic and Baltic States.

“I hope that in the next fifteen years Lithuania will get closer to the standards of living of the Nordic States and our region, as the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso said, will become a beacon of Europe,” the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy said.

During the seminar organized on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office the presentations were made by Director of the Council of Ministers Office Teppo Heiskanen, Swedish Minister for Social Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Berit Andnor, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador for the Baltic States of Iceland Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson, the Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Mr. Per Unckel, Professor of Vytautas Magnus University Leonidas Donskis, Member of the European Parliament Laima Andrikienė, and the President of Lithuanian Association of Adult Education Roma Juozaitiene.