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On 31 December, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas conferred “The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium” for a special personal contribution to the restoration of an independent Lithuania’s diplomatic service, strengthening of Lithuanian statehood and merits of promoting Lithuania’s name on Vytautas Landsbergis, Speaker of the Reconstituent Seimas, member of European Parliament and Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, President of Lithuania.

While conferring the awards, the Minister stressed that today, the last day of the year dedicated to the celebration of Lithuania’s Millennium, in the junction of two important years, when Lithuania’s millennium is changed by the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s independence, we pay tribute to two most meritorious persons in Lithuania.

The Minister evoked that during the years of Mr V.Landsbergis and Mr A. Brazauskas leadership, many diplomatic goals, important for Lithuania, were achieved: international recognition, pull-out of a foreign army, the agreements on Lithuania’s state border demarcation with the neighbour countries were signed, friendly relations with Poland were established and strengthened, the recognition of historical truth was achieved, as well as the normalisation of  relations with the world Jewish community and Israel, the US-Baltic Charter was signed, paving the way for our country’s membership in NATO and the country's modernization, its membership in the European Union.

“The fate has been generous to Lithuania, to have these persons leading Lithuania during its return to the world and strengthening its diplomatic service. Time is running out fast. These achievements may appear or seem for many diplomats of the younger generation as usual, natural ones. However, as President Valdas Adamkus was conferred with “The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium” in June for his contributions to Lithuania’s diplomacy, I said that nothing comes of nothing. Lithuania's achievements needed a vision, the determination, the courage, the ingenuity and the commitment. You have embodied all these features”, Minister V.Ušackas said.

During the award ceremony, former Lithuania’s leaders remembered how and under what circumstances Lithuania’s State and its diplomatic service was restored.

V.Landsbergis and A.Brazauskas were conferred with the last two awards of the “Star of Lithuania’s Millennium”.

The award of honour of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium” was established on the occasion of Lithuanian’s millennium in 2007 to honour persons for their merits to the state of Lithuania and its foreign policy. “The Star of Lithuania’s Millennium” is conferred on citizens of Lithuania and foreign countries for their special merits of promoting Lithuania’s name, fostering and developing relations among countries, also for their extraordinary merits in the civil service. 134 individuals and organizations were conferred with “The Stars of Lithuania's Millennium”.