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SpeechesPresident Obama, Mr. Secretary General, Dear Colleagues, This is our fourth NATO Summit in four years. Last time we met was in Lisbon, where we agreed on a New Strategic Concept of NATO. It seems that we meet often, yet at every meeting there are new challenges that we need to discuss and there are new issues that we must make serious decisions on. Dear Fellow People of Lithuania, I would like to extend my warmest wishes for a great Easter holiday, a celebration of spring and rebirth. May Easter morning bring each of you inspiration, new hope and strength. May the awakening nature, the twitter of birds and the sunshine fill you with love, joy and optimism. Dear Fellow People of Lithuania, Today as we stand and watch our national tricolor going up, we feel deeply grateful to those who turned the twilight of February 16th into the dawn of hope. Twenty signatories – and the many brave patriots behind them – proclaimed the restoration of Lithuanian independence. They inspired future generations to cherish freedom and to fight for it. We have the Declaration of Independence as a testimony of those days and a commitment to great accomplishments by a small nation. But we have much more than that. Dear Fellow People of Lithuania, In just a few moments, we will step into the New Year. As we listen to the chimes of time, let us hear each other, let us be together for our nation, let us feel our strength. The continued financial unrest has required special efforts from our country and families. Again and again, history teaches us the importance of togetherness. Christmas Eve gathers the closest and dearest to share the Christmas wafer. Togetherness brings us joy and happiness. Christmas is a time of hope and faith. I am delighted to welcome all of you here in Lithuania for the closing event of the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship. This is the second high-level meeting hosted by Vilnius this year. Lithuania has demonstrated that it has the ability and the capacity to lead large international organizations as an honest broker and a strong wish to help produce results. Twenty years ago Lithuania rejoined the international community of sovereign states and became a member of the United Nations. The unique experience of peaceful transition, state building and reforms during the last twenty years has made Lithuania stronger and more determined. History has taught us that an honest broker at national, bilateral or multilateral level is the key to solve almost any problem. In recent years we invested in building our capacity to become such a broker. Lithuania has just concluded its chairmanship of the Community of Democracies. I would like to express my gratitude to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his initiative to draw attention of the international community to the issue of high importance – nuclear safety in the world. The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident as well as other incidents remind us that issues of nuclear security and safety must be reassessed in detail and at the highest international level. Now is the exact moment to make decisions in order to avoid or limit similar disasters in the future. Each year as we mark the Memorial Day for the Holocaust Victims, we once again remember the pain and suffering endured by the Jews during World War II. The mass murder of innocent babies, old men and women, little children and their parents is a crime against humanity and against the fundamental right to life. It is a crime that can never be forgiven and that does not have a limitation period. Your Excellency Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to thank you, Mr. President, and everybody who helped organize this visit for the warm hospitality extended to me and the Lithuanian delegation in your beautiful country of ice and fire. This is my first visit to Iceland as the President of Lithuania. And therefore it has a special significance for me personally because it takes place at a very special moment. Last updated: 2012-05-21 08:11 |
EngagementsPresident attends the NATO Summit in Chicago
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