Lithuania celebrates Iceland’s role in its re-independence

  • 2014-06-16
  • From wire reports, VILNIUS

Lithuania commemorated the informal celebration of its gratefulness to Iceland, which was the first country to acknowledge Lithuania's restored independence, reports ELTA.

Celebrations took place in the evening in Islandijos street (Iceland street) in Vilnius. People had a great opportunity at tasting traditional fish stew made by a chef from Reykjavik as well as to listen to traditional Icelandic music. In addition, everyone was welcome to listen to a discussion with Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis and Iceland's Foreign Minister.

Iceland's support, which was clearly shown by the then-foreign minister of Iceland, was particularly important in reaffirming the independence of Lithuania.

In 1991 the Parliament of Iceland confirmed that Iceland's acknowledgment of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania in 1992 was valid. The country's Parliament called on the government to establish diplomatic relations with Lithuania.

Iceland's first envoy to Lithuania, Ingve S. Ingvarsson, presented Bronislavas Kuzmickas, Deputy Chair of the Supreme Council, with the letters of credence on September 17, 1991. On September 14, 1992 Dalius Cekuolis was appointed Ambassador of Lithuania to Iceland, residing in Copenhagen.