- Published: 06.06.2013.
Croatian Office opens in Vilnius
In the presence of top Lithuanian officials, representatives of governmental and European institutions, as well as numerous ambassadors accredited to Lithuania, a temporary Croatian Office was opened 6 June in Vilnius
In the presence of top Lithuanian officials – Seimas Speaker Vydas Gedvilas, Deputy Foreign Minister Vytautas Leškevičius, representatives of governmental and European institutions, as well as numerous ambassadors accredited to Lithuania, a temporary Croatian Office was opened 6 June in Vilnius. As an outpost of the Croatian Embassy in Stockholm, the Office will follow the activities of Lithuania’s presidency over the Council of the European Union, whose 28th member Croatia is set to become on 1 July, the date the Lithuanian presidency starts.
At a ceremony organized on the premises of the Office, Ambassador Vladimir Matek remarked on Croatia’s road to the full-fledged EU membership and thanked Lithuania for its continuous support, introducing Head of the Office Dunja Sičaja.
Gedvilas underscored the two countries’ friendly relations, which have been confirmed during his recent visit to Croatia. He said a Croatia Friendship Group was formed in the parliament, headed by distinguished MP Emanuelis Zingeris, who delivered an address on the long tradition of friendly relations and cooperation.
Deputy FM for European Affairs Leškevičius expressed hope that the two countries’ successful cooperation would continue within the EU and other international bodies as well. He was also hopeful that the newly-opened Croatian Office marked the beginning of Croatia’s lasting diplomatic presence in Lithuania.
The Office will also be tasked with maintaining bilateral contacts with Lithuania’s state bodies and institutions, without performing any consular functions.