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Treaty on Foundations of Inter-State Relations between Lithuania and Russia signed in 1991 confirmed the resolution of the countries to eliminate the negative consequences of the annexation of Lithuania in 1940, and develop relationship based on friendship, good neighbourhood, equality and mutual benefit, said Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis  during discussion dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Treaty that took place in Lithuanian Seimas.

According to the Minister, the Treaty embodies the key conditions necessary for a complete reconciliation and dynamic partnership between Lithuania and Russia.

"This is a key political and legal pillar for Lithuanian-Russian relations, and importance of this Treaty should continue to grow in the future," A. Ažubalis said in the roundtable discussion held on July 29 in the Seimas.

According to the Minister, by putting their signatures on the Treaty twenty years ago Chairman of the Lithuanian Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis and Russian President Boris Yeltsin opened a “totally new perspective of relations between two nations longing for freedom and justice. Both for Lithuania and Russia the Treaty became an important promise of democratic statehood, international recognition and amity, which is still valid at the present time.”

According to A. Ažubalis, the Treaty was born against the background of tragic events in our country: on 13th January, 1991 there was an attempt to suppress Lithuania’s aspiration for freedom and independence, on 31 July of that year the resurgent country was shaken by the killings in Medininkai.

The Minister stressed, that at that difficult times Lithuania was in need of true friends, and the first democratically elected Russian President Boris Yeltsin became one of them.

“He had consistently supported the striving for the consolidation of Lithuania's independence and amity between the two countries, so after his death, the highest state award of Lithuania the Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis had been deservedly conferred upon him,"  A. Ažubalis said.

According to him, the spirit of the Treaty existing for twenty years should lead the current relationship, which could and should be better.

“The main and sufficient legal and political passkey to the success of the Lithuanian-Russian relations is the Treaty signed twenty years ago. I urge all representatives of Lithuania and Russia to follow consistently this binding document. Let us not forget why, how and for what purpose it was created, let us cherish its value, respect its spirit and word,” the Minister said.

The minister stressed that any attempt to depreciate the Treaty or just forget about it will be unpromising, since the Treaty, someone likes it or not, exists.

The discussion in the Seimas “The Treaty on Inter-State Relations between Lithuania and Russia: its Significance in 1991 and Today“ was  also attended by well-known Lithuanian and Russian political and public figures, scholars, diplomats.

Among the speakers at the discussion were Russian politician, historian, political scientist Fyodor Shelov-Kovedyaev who took part in the ceremony of exchange of the Treaty ratification documents, member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis, historians Zenonas Butkus and Yuri Afanasiev.