Actualités

Cette année, la Lituanie fête son Millénaire. De nombreux évènements ont été prévus pour commémorer une année si particulière.  Pour vous en donner quelques exemples: la capitale de la Lituanie, Vilnius, est devenue la Capitale européenne de la culture pour l’année 2009 ; l’équipe de 120 yachtsmen lituaniens naviguent autour du monde dans l’intention de réunir les Lituaniens vivant sur des continents différents. Aujourd’hui, j’ai l’honneur et le plaisir d’inaugurer, au siège de l’UNESCO, l’exposition «Lituanie : culture et histoire» qui est également consacrée à cette occasion importante.

This traveling exhibition traces our state’s cultural and political history. It is also a historical and contemporary study of Lithuanian identity and creativity. It begins with the first written mention of the name Lithuania in the Quedlingburg’s Annals of 1009, continues with the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990 and deals with Lithuania’s accession to the European Union and NATO in 2004.

In the past, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania invited people from various states, different cultures and religions to come and settle down in Lithuania. Therefore, since the Middle Ages Lithuania has been known for its tolerance as a “cultural bridge” between Eastern and Western cultures.

I believe that some facts from the exhibition might be of particular interest to foreign audiences. Most likely, few Americans know that the hero of the American Revolution, Thaddeus Kościuszko, had Lithuanian roots, while very few English people may know that their King Henry IV participated in the battle of Vilnius’s Castle in 1390. Of interest to all Europeans will be the fact that the 1429 Diet of Lutsk, organized by Vytautas the Great, can be compared to current European summits. In 2003 Pope John Paul II in his speech in Rome traced the roots of the European Union to the Union of Lublin of 1569, which created a single state – Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth.

It is symbolic that after having visited different cities and countries, this exhibition has made a stop at the UNESCO headquarters, at the headquarters of the organization which has launched the project of the History of Humanity. I am pleased that Lithuania has been provided with the opportunity of presenting to the UNESCO community and guests the evolution of our State and society, culture and interaction with the world.

I would like to finish by expressing my warm gratitude to all those who have made this exciting project a reality, and especially the Director of Lithuanian Art Museum, Mr. Romualdas Budrys, who is standing next to me.

Thank you, and I hope you will enjoy the exhibition.