LITHUANIAN FOREIGN VICE-MINISTER THANKS FRANCE FOR ITS SUPPORT DURING THE YEARS OF OCCUPATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
“Having never recognized the annexation of Lithuania, France remains an important strategic partner of Lithuania in the European Union and NATO,” Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas said during the discussion in Vilnius, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations of Lithuania and France.
“We are grateful to the French that during the years of occupation of Lithuania France supported our aspirations of freedom and did not recognize the annexation of Lithuania,” E.Meilūnas said at the event at the dance theatre of the National M.K.Čiurlionis School of the Arts on 29 August.
According to the Vice-Minister, France was one of the few foreign countries that did not return to the Soviet Union the gold that Lithuania had deposited in the bank of France. President of France François Mitterrand was the first head of state from Western Europe, who paid a visit to Lithuania after the country regained its Independence in 1992.
E.Meilūnas said that the strategic partnership action plan, signed by Lithuania and France in June, was an important impetus to cooperation between the countries.
The Vice-Minister thanked everyone, who had contributed to the development of the Lithuanian-French partnership and friendship over the past 20 years.
The patrons of the event marking the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of Lithuanian-French diplomatic relations are Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and Ambassador of France to Lithuania François Laumonier.
The event was also attended by Member of European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania’s first Ambassador to France after the re-establishment of diplomatic relations Osvaldas Balakauskas, the first French Ambassador to Lithuania Philippe de Suremain and the Ambassador of Lithuania to France Jolanta Balčiūnienė.
Diplomatic relations of Lithuania and France were re-established on 29 August 1991.
