Foreign minister calls on Lithuanian diplomats, diaspora leaders to strengthen ties

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called for strengthening "the bonds of identity" that bind together Lithuanians around the world as he welcomed participants of last weekend's meeting of Lithuanian diplomats and diaspora leaders in Germany.  

"We, Lithuanians, understand better than anyone else the tragic nature of the events in Ukraine, because our own history has also been full of treacherous twists and turns," Landsbergis said in his welcoming message. 

"Today, when we have to defend and strengthen Lithuania's statehood in the face of nuclear and energy blackmail, it is important to remember that the strength of our nation lies in unity. Therefore, it is necessary to bolster the bonds of identity that bind us all together," he said. 

According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting in Huettenfeld on October 21-23 brought together the heads of 23 Lithuanian diplomatic missions and consular offices and representatives of more than 20 diaspora organizations from 15 European countries. 

Among other things, Landsbergis thanked the Lithuanian diaspora for their active support to Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression.