Dear President Nauseda,
Esteemed audience,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Hello! Laba diena!
I am honored to be here today, at the ceremony of hoisting the National Flag of Lithuania, on the occasion of the Statehood Day of your country.
Thank you, Mr. President, for the invitation to visit Vilnius on this special day for the Lithuanian people. I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the friendship and partnership between our countries.
For almost eight centuries, Lithuania has remained an important voice in European history, experiencing both periods of ascension and glory and moments of hardship. The foreign occupation tried to destroy the national elites and brought terror, forced collectivization and waves of deportations. Despite these challenges, today Lithuania's distinct, independent voice continues to resonate and to matter on the European continent and in the world.
Moldova also has experienced foreign occupation. Today, July 6, our country commemorates the victims of Stalinist deportations, which separated tens of thousands of families, destroyed tens of thousands of destinies. We remember these crimes and we owe it to ourselves to never allow them to happen again.
Over the centuries, our countries have maintained close trade, military and cultural relations. We’ve had many connections in recent history. Moldovans watched with admiration and supported the Lithuanian National Liberation Movement in the late 1980s. We are the first country to recognize the restoration of Lithuania's independence in the spring of 1990. Today Lithuania remains an example of dignity and courage for my country.
We appreciate Lithuania's consistent support for Moldova's democratic development and European integration. Your country has always been on the side of our citizens. Today, we are firmly anchored on the road to Europe after the European Council granted us candidate status, two weeks ago.
The decision to offer Moldova, along with Ukraine, the chance for European integration was taken in a dramatic regional context. On February 24, Russian tanks invaded Ukraine. For four and a half months, Ukraine has been fighting the Russian army, which is killing its citizens and destroying its cities. Ukraine fights for its freedom, for the freedom and the future of Europe.
Moldova and Lithuania have standed in solidarity with Ukraine since day one. We called to stop the horrors of this war and offered our help. Moldova hosts tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, giving them food and shelter. Lithuania provides economic, political and military support to Ukraine.
In a time when some are trying to convince us that the law of the fist must prevail in the 21st century, we continue to choose mutual respect, cooperation and dialogue between countries, in the interest and benefit of the people, for maintaining and strengthening security and peace.
The war threw our region into uncertainty and reminded us of one important thing: freedom is not a given, it is not a free token we can count on regardless of the circumstances. Freedom must be defended. Peace must become again the supreme value of human civilization.
Dear Mr. President,
I am convinced that Moldova and Lithuania have many years of prosperity and mutually beneficial cooperation ahead of them, in the family of European countries.
Like Lithuania, we know the price of our freedom and we are ready to defend it. In this way we will guarantee the peace, security and prosperity of our region, for the good of all.
Sincere congratulations to all the Lithuanian people on the occasion of Statehood Day. Long live Lithuania! Tegyvuoja Lietuva!