Vilnius to host commemoration of 100 years of US-Lithuania diplomatic relations

“The event is designed to thank our ally, the United States, which has never recognized the occupation of the Baltic countries and always supported Lithuania in its fight for freedom and the country’s integration in NATO,” the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

Lithuania, which declared the restoration of its statehood in 1918, was de jure recognized by the United States on July 28, 1922.

In 1940, after the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, US Secretary of State Benjamin Sumner Welles declared that the US did not recognize the Soviet annexation of the three Baltic States and that the diplomatic and consular offices of these countries could continue to operate.

The event will be attended by President Gitanas Nauseda, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, US Ambassador Robert Gilchrist, Emanuel Zingeris, chairman of the Seimas Inter-parliamentary Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the United States of America, Deputy Defense Minister Vilius Semeska.