News

On 1 April, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas received the new Ambassador of Italy to Lithuania Renato Maria Ricci and discussed with him bilateral relations and the most important issues on the European Union and NATO’s agenda. Ambassador R.M.Ricci and Minister V.Ušackas talked about possibilities to organise visits of the highest-ranking Italian officials to Lithuania in the nearest future. The Minister indicated that Italy was an important EU and NATO member and therefore a more intensive cooperation would allow the countries to comprehend the positions and goals of each other better.

The Ambassador indicated that the aim of the visits and consultations would be to get acquainted with the region. Closer cooperation would help to attract additional investments of the Lithuanian and Italian business structures.

Minister V.Ušackas reminded the Italian Ambassador about the issue of the Lithuanian diplomatic representation and the land in Rome, which remained unsolved since the re-establishment of Lithuania’s independence. R.M.Ricci assured that he would pay every effort to solve the issue during his tenure, so that both countries would be satisfied with the result.

The Minister was glad that the Lithuanian Tourist Information Centre, which opened in spring of 2008 in Rome, had already borne fruit and Italian tourists were discovering Lithuania. Italy is among the first ten countries, whose citizens visit our country most frequently.

Ambassador of Italy R.M.Ricci presented credentials to President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus on 13 March.

Italy recognised Lithuania de jure on 13 July 1922. During the pre-war period, there was an Embassy of Italy in Kaunas and an Embassy of Lithuania in Rome.

Italy held Lithuania’s incorporation into the U.S.S.R. illegal. During the years of occupation, Italy remained a shelter for representatives of the Lithuanian culture and politics.

Bilateral diplomatic relations were re-established on 30 August 1991.