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On 14 February, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas took part in the opening of the Lithuanian Culture Days in Ukraine at the National Philharmonic Hall, where he welcomed the gathered guests with the 90th anniversary of the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania.

‘I am glad that on the eve of the celebration of 16th of February in Kiev, we are opening the Lithuanian Culture Days in Ukraine. Lithuania and Ukraine share hundreds of years of common historical experience:  common victories and losses, and the most important – the genuine goal of freedom and independence,’ said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

According to the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, both Lithuania and Ukraine have been through the loss of independence and are back on the map of the independent European countries. 

‘Therefore, we understand each other very well and are happy about each other’s achievements, as well as we feel for each other in cases of hardships,’ indicated Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy highlighted that 90 years ago, the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania on the 16th of February allowed the nation to live in dignity, to strengthen its economic foundation and develop its culture.

‘It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the Act of February 16th for our self-awareness. It is an example of inspiring idealism, from which we drew strength during the years of occupation and, again, after the Restoration of Independence,’ said P.Vaitiekūnas.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas states that today Lithuania is a full-fledged member of the Euro-Atlantic community and has already obtained experience dealing with the European institutions, the decisions made by which have a big impact not only on Lithuania, bet affect the entire region and alter the face of the world globally. 

‘It is joyful that Ukraine follows into the same footsteps and that today we feel the brotherhood between the nations, which is determined not only historically, but also strengthened by our common goals of today. I am speaking this from my heart, repeating the words of the President Valdas Adamkus: ‘The success of Ukraine is also the success of Lithuania.’ I trust that the Lithuanian Culture Days, which will last all this year in Ukraine, will testify to our brotherhood again,’ said Minister P.Vaitiekūnas.

The opening of the Lithuanian Culture Days in Ukraine was also attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko, Lithuanian and Ukrainian Ministers of Culture Jonas Jučas and Vasilyi Vovkun.  

Such world-known Lithuanian stars as pianist Petras Geniušas and jazz player Vladimiras Čekasinas gave a concert to the guests of the event. For the first time, they performed a program ‘Invasion into Classics’ of an expressive jazz improvisation and original classical piano music.

The display of the text of the Act of Independence and the photographs of the signatories of the Act of Independence commemorated the exceptional events that took place ninety years ago.

During the event, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas conferred the Foreign Ministry awards – ‘The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium’, to the Ukrainian citizens for their merits to the foreign policy of Lithuania. 

The awards of ‘The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium’ were conferred to: Lithuanian Honorary Consul in Lvov Vitaliy Antonov, President of Honour of the public organization ‘Culture and Universe –2000’ Marina Kinakh, writer and script-writer Andrei Kurkov, representative from Mažeikių Nafta Refinery and co-head of the Lithuanian-Ukrainian foundation of T.Ševčenko Igor Maistrenka.