Forum, Law and Regulations, Legislation, Lithuania

Photo: lrp.lt

President Dalia Grybauskaite delivered the welcoming speech, "The Constitution guarantees the stability and security of the country. We may rejoice that this Constitution has been in effect the longest in our country's history. Although there have been many attempts to move its foundations, yet all of them failed. This shows the maturity of our nation, the respect of legal values and the effective protection mechanism of the Constitution".

The event organised by the Constitutional Court was attended by the creators of the Constitution, signatories of the Independence Act of 11 March, prominent lawyers, judges, scientists and foreign guests – chairs of the constitutional courts of Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and a representative of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal.

According to Grybauskaite, only the rule of law can ensure the respect of human rights and freedoms or prevent discrimination and privileges. The freedom of speech, the right to create the country's wellbeing and determine its fate can only be guaranteed in a civic society. These values are the pillars of democracy on which our statehood is based.

In her speech the president emphasised that the Constitution is of the utmost importance in the face of geopolitical challenges. Moreover, one should not forget that freedom is fragile when there is upheaval and conflicts both in the world and near Lithuania.

"The Constitution grants the nation and every one of us the right, and together the duty, to defend the state. We must ensure that neither words nor weapons encroach on fundamental values – independence, territorial integrity, the constitutional order. The defendability of the country must not be sacrificed for a short-lived benefit or political dividends," said Grybauskaite.