The EU has declared 2010 the year for combating poverty and social exclusion. This initiative has been joined by most European countries, including – as of this week – Lithuania. In her address to the participants of a special introductory event, dedicated to combating poverty and organized by the Ministry of Social Security and Labor, President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that the deepening social exclusion posed a challenge not only to the state, but also to society. Therefore, the President said, the contribution of active and civic-minded people was very important and priceless when addressing the most painful problems faced by society.
“Lithuania and Ireland are linked by a very special partnership, which is strengthened by the membership of our countries in the European Union and supported by the large and dynamic Lithuanian community in your country. I hope that during my visit to Ireland in May of this year, we will not only have an opportunity to exchange thoughts on how our two countries are preparing for the OSCE chairmanship and the EU presidency, but also to extensively discuss our steps towards building up bilateral dialogue and cooperation in different areas,” President Dalia Grybauskaitė wrote in her message of congratulations to President Mary McAleese of Ireland on the occasion of Saint Patrick’s Day.
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė received letters of credence from the Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia, Paul Wesley Stephens. In the meeting, the President and the new Australian Ambassador discussed bilateral relations and opportunities for closer cooperation between the two states in trade, investment, culture, and other areas.
Today is a very special day. We are celebrating twenty years of reestablished independence - the anniversary of free Lithuania. Independence was the ultimate goal that united the people, lighting the fire of Sąjūdis and kindling the hearts of all.
On this festive day we come to understand very clearly the great significance of the events in which we participated, and the immense importance of the decisions that you made twenty years ago. You were in the very heart of those events and you knew, better than anyone else, the hopes and expectations of our people and also of the threats they faced. You stayed in the forefront and never wavered in bringing the people together in Sąjūdis, leading them to elections and proclaiming on their behalf the reestablishment of Lithuanian independence.
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