10 February 2011. Press release
Speaker of the Seimas, Irena Degutienë, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan now, has sent a letter of gratitude to the Speaker of Althingi, Ásta R. Jóhannesdóttir and all Members of the Icelandic Parliament and thanked the people of Iceland for the decision to recognise the independence of Lithuania twenty years ago.
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS SEIMO PIRMININKAS
SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
H. E. Ms Ásta R. Jóhannesdóttir Vilnius, 4 February 2011
Speaker of Althingi
Republic of Iceland
Members of Althingi,
Dear Madame Speaker,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends of Lithuania,
Twenty years have passed since a particularly meaningful and honourable event, the day of de facto recognition of the independence of the Lithuanian state on 11 February 1991 by Althingi, which was followed by the Icelandic Parliament’s active effort to ensure it is our de jure freedom.
For Lithuania it was not just the beginning of its international recognition and foreign policy. The people of Lithuania, who had lived through the 13 January 1991 military aggression of the most powerful empire against the armless citizens of their state, took it as a momentous sign of their survival. Your announcement to the world told us that we had a friend, a moral supporter of our aspirations. Your recognition was welcomed in Lithuania with great joy and sincere gratitude. It was the source of strength and courage, as well as stamina for us.
We are cordially grateful to the Members of Althingi, who voted for the decision, to the Members of Government of Iceland, particularly to J. B. Hannibalsson and to all the people of Iceland, who stood for Lithuania, for truth and freedom, twenty years ago and supported the independence that our millennium-old country enjoys today.
Whatever the future of our states, whatever the whim of their history, Lithuanian people will always have a very special feeling towards Iceland and the wave of gratitude and respect will never stop coming to your country from Lithuania.
I am writing to express my personal respect. Lithuania was lucky to have such a friend in 1991; Lithuania is honoured to continue this friendship today.
Please accept my very best wishes for success to your state, your nation and its people,
Irena Degutienë
