Throughout 2008 Ukraine and Lithuania’s hearts will be beating in the same rhythm, the “rhythm of European civilization.” That is how Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekunas described the beginning of the Days of Lithuania in Ukraine at the opening ceremony.
According to the Lithuanian minister, the year 2008 has great significance for the history of Lithuanian state building. “In February 1918, after the disintegration of the Russian Empire, the Lithuanian Republic was established. Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the restoration of its state and seeking to develop its centuries-long friendly relations with Ukraine, Lithuania has launched a series of cultural, economic, and historical events that will continue for one year and will take place in different cities and regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Symferopil, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Kamianets-Podilsky,” Vaitiekunas announced.
Before the official ceremony began, Jonas Jucas, Lithuania’s Minister of Culture, and Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Vasyl Vovkun officially signed the Program of Cultural Cooperation between the two countries for the period from 2008 to 2011. “Lithuania has always been present in Ukraine’s cultural, spiritual, and informational areas. We share hundreds of years of friendship,” Vovkun emphasized, speaking about the significance of the event.
The Year of Lithuania follows last year’s celebrations of Kazakhstan in Ukraine. Previous years have been devoted to the art, history, and modern life in Poland, Russia, and Georgia.
As Gabriela Jaidite, the Lithuanian cultural attache, explained to The Day, “In inaugurating the Year of Lithuania in Ukraine 2008, we want it to be another step in establishing mutual communication and expanding knowledge about each other and cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine.” She invited Ukrainians and their guests to attend various artistic events and mutually beneficial discussions that will be held in a number of theaters, galleries, concert halls, cinemas, and literary salons. Right after the opening ceremony the visitors enjoyed performances by such world-famous stars as the classical music performer Petras Geniusas and jazz saxophonist Vladimiras Cekasinas.
In their turn, Lithuanians are hoping soon to become acquainted with Ukrainian culture, history, and art in their homeland during the Year of Ukraine in Lithuania.
