The 25th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Lithuania was celebrated in Brussels on 16 March 2015.
By Embassy of Lithuania in Brussels and Baron Henri Estramant.
Belgian government and business officials, diplomats, representatives from NATO and the EU institutions as well as friends of Lithuania were present at the event, including EU Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager.
On this special occasion Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius congratulated the audience and noted that “while enjoying our freedom, we could not forget people in Europe who are fighting for territorial integrity, sovereignty and for their rights to choose the European perspective”.
On 17 March 2015, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius met Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders. The Ministers discussed economic and political relations between Belgium and Lithuania, EU and NATO agenda issues. Minister Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania is “interested in fostering bilateral relations and underlined the successful cooperation in EU, NATO and Benelux-Baltic States format”. During the meeting ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine, EU sanctions on Russia and their effectiveness. The Minister drew attention to the importance for Russia to implement fully the Minsk agreements.
In the context of changed regional security situation L. Linkevičius marked that Lithuania highly appreciates Belgium’s input into the security of Baltic region. Belgium was the first NATO country which took part in Baltic air policing mission in 2004, after that performed the missions in 2006 and 2013. Belgium regularly participates in NATO military exercises in Baltic region.
The reception was hosted in the noble atmosphere of the Château de Saint Anne in the outskirts of Brussels, and was hosted by Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Raimundas Karoblis, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Belgium, Gediminas Varvuolis as well as the Permanent Representative to NATO, Vytautas Leškevičius.
Another event to celebrate the restoration of independence was held on 4 March 2015 in the premises of the European Parliament.
