Other events in Baltic States

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated President Dalia Grybauskaite on the approaching 20th Anniversary of the Reestablishment of Lithuanian Independence and invited her for a bilateral visit to Russia at a time convenient to her, the presidential press service reports BC.

"I am grateful for the invitation to the celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the Reestablishment of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. I would like to extend my congratulations on this anniversary and to wish you and the people of Lithuania every success," President Medvedev wrote in his message of congratulations.

The Russian president expressed his regrets that he would not be able to participate in the March 11 festivities in Vilnius due to his pre-arranged international engagements. He delegated Igor Levitin, Russian Transport Minister and Russian Co-Chairman of the Lithuanian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, to represent Russia at the commemorative events.

"It is with warmth that I recall our short but fruitful conversation in Berlin. I hope to meet you in the near future and I invite you to visit the Russian Federation at a time convenient for you. I believe that we will be able to discuss a whole range of issues topical for Lithuanian-Russian relations and project the ways to makeour bilateral cooperation more dynamic," President Medvedev wrote.

Commenting on Dmitry Medvedev's letter of congratulations on the anniversary of Lithuania's re-independence, President Dalia Grybauskaite said that it was an important step made by Russia in shaping good neighborly relations with Lithuania. "I favorably assess the fact that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev extended congratulations to Lithuania on both the Restoration of the Lithuanian Statehood of February 16 and the Reestablishment of Lithuanian Independence of March 11. Lithuania's interest is to maintain well-wishing relations based on mutual benefit and respect with all the neighboring countries. A bilateral working visit would present a good opportunity to discuss issues of importance to Lithuania with the President of Russia and possible options for the development of bilateral economic and cultural cooperation," President Grybauskaite said.