News

Tuesday, January 22, Denmark - At the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, President Dalia Grybauskaitė participated in an official lunch hosted on the occasion of the Lithuanian President's visit to Denmark.

The conversation during the lunch focused on the development of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Denmark, the prospects for further cooperation, Europe's future and the challenges being faced. According to the President, strong and united Europe is in the common interest of Denmark and Lithuania which are counting 40 years and almost 9 years respectively of their membership in the EU.

"Today we mark the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty which opened vast opportunities for the unification of Europe. The ability of the European people to live peacefully and help each other for over half a century has been commended by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize. The close relationship between Denmark, an old member state, and Lithuania as a new member state, is an example of true European solidarity and mutual support," the President said.

According to the President, since regaining its independence Lithuania has always felt support and a friendly shoulder of the Danish people. Denmark was among the first nations to recognize Lithuania's independence and to provide considerable material support to our country, also consistently upholding Lithuania in its EU and NATO membership aspirations. It is the fourth time that the Danish aircrew is protecting the air space in the Baltics.

The Queen of Denmark attended Lithuania's millennium celebration, and the Danish Prime Minister paid a visit to our country at the time of marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Lithuania and Denmark enjoy not only robust political relations, but also close economic ties and joint investment projects. Lithuania-Denmark cultural contacts have been expanding intensely over the past decades: joint projects are carried out by theatre people and film makers, Czesław Miłosz's literary works have been translated into the Danish language and M. K. Čiurlionis' creation has been widely introduced. The Queen of Denmark, who is attaching great importance to art and literature, has received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration and is keeping contact with Antanas Markuckis, the Head of Panevėžys Puppet Theatre who was the first winner of the award.

Later this afternoon, the President will pay a visit to the Royal Library of Denmark.

The President will give to the library a book of Konstantinas Čiurlionis' works, photo album "Unseen Lithuania", the collection of photos by Rimantas Dichavičius "Marked by Freedom", Stanisław Filibert Fleury's book with photographed views of old Vilnius.

Press Service of the President