A special commemorative event at the CerModern contemporary art museum of Ankara started with the history-making song „Bunda jau Baltija“ (Wake up the Baltics) and was followed by the screening of the documentary „The Baltic Way to Freedom“ by Latvian director Askolds Saulitis. The film captures the main events in the Baltic countries in their quest for freedom and independence from the Soviet Union.

In addition to the film, an exhibition on the Baltic Way was displayed at the CerModern to provide the guests of the event – among them representatives of the academic and business communities, civil servants and civil activists, also foreign diplomats – with more detailed information on the Baltic Way, a unique joint peaceful political demonstration of the Baltic nations.

80 years ago, on August 23, 1939 upon signature of the so called Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocols, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and conquest. 30 years ago, on August 23, 1989 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians stood hand-in-hand in a 675 km long Baltic Way from Vilnius to Riga to Tallinn to protest occupation and demand freedom.

In their welcoming remarks, Ambassador Audrius Bruzga of Lithuania, Ambassador Annely Kolk of Estonia and Ambassador Peteris-Karlis Elferts of Latvia reminded of the political and historic significance of the Baltic Way and paid tribute to their respective nationals who did not live to see Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania become independent again.

Minister Hulusi Akar made a positive assessment of the bilateral Lithuania – Turkey cooperation in security and defence which had lasted for nearly 30 years and called on his Lithuanian partners to do more to strengthen this cooperation. At the meeting the Minister put regional security challenges to Turkey in focus and called on Allies to show solidarity in fighting terrorism.

On April 4 Ambassador Bruzga will travel to Izmir to attend the ceremony on the occasion of NATO 70 Year Anniversary to take place at NATO LANDCOM HQ.

Four partners in total joined the project “A Roadmap for Smart City”: Telšiai District Municipality from Lithuania and Szarvas Municipality from Hungary, Hitit University and Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Çorum

Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Turkey Audrius Brūzga was the guest of honour of the event. Lithuanian Ambassador, in his opening speech welcomed the efforts of the three municipalities to join forces to employ new and emerging concepts of urban planning and development.

The President of the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mehmet Şahin has been appointed as the Honorary Consul. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu attended the opening ceremony.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister was pleased that the opening of the new Honorary Consulate in Alanya showed Lithuania’s interest in developing closer ties with this important region of Turkey. According to L. Linkevičius, the Honorary Consulate should pay particular attention to the promotion of bilateral economic relations and investments, as well as to the search for new markets for Lithuanian goods.

The bilateral meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister focused on issues related to foreign policy, regional security and bilateral cooperation, the situation in the Black and Azov Seas.

“During these difficult times, NATO must increase its support for Ukraine, which has suffered new attacks by Russia. The Alliance’s partners have to unitedly support Ukraine to help the country be better prepared to defend itself from external aggression. Only a solid united response by the international community can stop further Russian aggression,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

During his visit to Alanya, L. Linkevičius also met representatives of the Lithuanian community in Turkey. The Lithuanian community was registered in the municipality of Alanya in 2014. This is the first officially registered Lithuanian community in Turkey. According to the Lithuanian Embassy, there are currently 600 Lithuanians living in Turkey.

The political relations between Turkey and Lithuania are positively improving. Turkey’s support for Lithuania’s NATO membership and Lithuania’s support for Turkey’s EU membership negotiations have been instrumental in further strengthening our relations.

President H.E. Dalia Grybauskaite’s official visit to Turkey between 7-9 December 2014 has clearly indicated the common will and effort to give a new momentum to close cooperation between the two countries.

The visit of H.E. Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, to Turkey on 22 August 2016 to display solidarity with Turkey after the failed coup attempt on 15 July 2016, was the first visit at the Foreign Minister level among NATO and EU member countries. Foreign Minister Linkevičius also paid a working visit to Ankara on 9 May 2018; and H.E. Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, paid an official visit to Lithuania on 28 August 2018. The two Foreign Ministers met lastly on 8 December 2018 on the occasion of inauguration of Honoray Consulate of Lithuania in Alanya.

Turkey contributes to the NATO’s Energy Security Center Excellence in Vilnius with a personnel.

The overall volume of trade between the two countries was recorded as 687 million Dollars in 2018. (Turkish exports: 277 million Dollars; imports: 410 million Dollars)

In the period of 2002-2018, total amount of direct investments from Lithuania to Turkey has been 22 million Dollars. For the same period, foreign direct investment from Turkey to Lithuania has been 3 million Dollars.

Turkey is the most preferred touristic destination for Lithuanian people. Approximately 200 thousand Lithuanian tourists visited Turkey in 2018.

In Lithuania three universities, namely Vilnius University, Vilnius Pedagogy University as well as Vytautas Didzioji University offer Turkish language courses in their curriculum.

In Vingis Military Cemetery in Vilnius, there are graves of our martyrs wounded in the Galician Front during World War I and sent to Lithuania for treatment.

Approximately 350 Turkish citizens live in Lithuania.

Lithuania has Honorary Consulates in Antalya, Bursa, Eskişehir, İstanbul, İzmir, Mersin and Alanya.