Other events in Baltic States

On March 11 this year, Lithuania will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Restoration of Independence. Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers, Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, Finland's President Tarja Halonen, and Slovenia's President Danilo Turk plan to visit Vilnius on this occasion. The commemorative events are expected to be attended by the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Pamela Quanrud, Sweden's Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson, Russia's Minister of Transport Igor Levitin, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Petro Poroshenko, former President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel, and other guests from foreign states. The commemoration of the Anniversary of Restoration of Lithuania's Independence will also be joined in by heads of parliaments of Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Georgia, Czech Republic, Iceland, United Kingdom, Moldova, Slovenia, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, and the United S

tates of America, informed BC press service of the president.

President of Belarus Alexandr Lukashenko will not participate in the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of restoration of Lithuanian independence, he will be represented by Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers of Belarus Viktor Buria

On the eve of the anniversary, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite will present medals of the 20th Anniversary of Restoration of Independence to the signatories of the Act of Independence and members of the Initiative Group of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sajudis and the Council of the Seimas of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sajudis, for their exceptional contribution to the history of the State.

On Thursday, March 11, the commemorative events will start with a solemn sitting at the Seimas.

The solemn sitting at the Seimas will be followed by a congratulatory address by President Dalia Grybauskaite to the people of Lithuania on the Independence Square, after which the President and the foreign visitors will watch the ceremony of hoisting flags of the three Baltic States and a solemn parade by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and other militarized structures from the Independence Square to the Cathedral. Later, the president and foreign guests will celebrate Holy Mass at the Vilnius Cathedral.

The Office of the President will host a gala lunch to the honor of the heads of foreign states visiting Lithuania on the occasion of the Anniversary of Independence. After dinner, the President will have bilateral meetings with Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers.

Later in the evening, a celebratory pop concert will take place on the Cathedral Square with popular Lithuanian singers performing. The concert will be given to locals and visitors free of charge.

The head of Belarus informed Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who invited him to participate in the commemorative events, about his decision.

Lukashenko warmly thanked the head of Lithuanian state for the invitation and pointed out the potential of further political, economic and cultural relations with Lithuania.

The president of Belarus confirmed the invitation for Dalia Grybauskaite to visit Belarus. In autumn 2009, Alexandr Lukashenko visited Vilnius upon the invitation of Dalia Grybauskaite.