Speaker of the Seimas met with Frederik X, King of Denmark

Press release, 8 May 2024

Today, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, visited the winter residence of the Danish Royal Family, where she met with Frederik André Henrik Christian, His Majesty The King, Count of Monpezat, King of Denmark. According to the Speaker, this was a great opportunity to thank the Kingdom of Denmark for its support and assistance to Lithuania, both in its recovery from Soviet occupation and in its integration into the European Union and NATO.

‘It is very important for us that, in 1991, Denmark was the second country after Iceland to recognise Lithuania’s restored independence. In the same year, Denmark re-established diplomatic relations with Lithuania and, in general, developed an active Baltic policy. A year earlier, Denmark supported the establishment of the Baltic Information Office, which was the first institution of its kind for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in Western Europe,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said. She went on to say that the cooperation between the two countries was undoubtedly strengthened by Queen Margaret II of Denmark who was the first monarch to pay a state visit to independent Lithuania. She was accompanied by her son, the country’s current King Frederik X, King of Denmark.

In the words of the Speaker of the Seimas, this year, as Lithuania celebrates a significant milestone, namely, the 20th anniversary of its membership of NATO and the EU, Denmark’s role in Lithuania’s integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic architecture is particularly remembered.

‘Denmark has made very significant investments to help Lithuania realise its membership aspirations. The BALTBAT group, established in 1994, mobilised donor support for the creation of Baltic armies and provided the Lithuanian army with equipment and weapons,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen says. ‘At the end of the day, Denmark was the first NATO member country to conclude a bilateral military cooperation agreement with Lithuania, and the first Western country to sign a visa waiver agreement with Lithuania.’

Later, Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen will meet with Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark, to discuss the relevant matters and prospects for defence cooperation.

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+ 370  5 209 6030, mob. + 370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt