REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY MCALEESE AT A STATE DINNER HOSTED BY PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OF IRELAND, MARY MCALEESE AT A STATE DINNER HOSTED BY PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA H.E. ADAMKUS VILNIUS
LABAS VÁCARAS! MAN MALONÚ BU-T LIÉTUVOYÁ
(Good evening! I am delighted to be here in Lithuania)
It is my privilege to be the first President of Ireland to pay a state visit to this beautiful country, which has acquired a significant profile in Ireland in recent years. I remember with fondness the State Visit to Ireland by you, President Adamkus, in 2001, presaging an era of closer relations between our two countries.
Lithuania, like Ireland, is an old nation but a young country and there are strong parallels in our respective histories. We have both been accustomed to living in the shadow of a large and powerful neighbour. We each have strong and enduring national traditions in music and dance. We both have a unique national language which we cherish.
Lithuania itself has come a long way in a short time and you can be justly proud of your considerable achievements. Your journey to freedom, democracy and respect for human rights has not been an easy one. The transformation that has occurred in this part of Europe could not have been anticipated even 20 years ago. This triumph of freedom is one of the most remarkable achievements of the past 60 years.
The veil of ignorance in Western Europe surrounding the terrible events which took place in Lithuania after 1945 has only recently been lifted. Yet even in those dark times, there were examples of solidarity between our peoples. I think, for example, of the campaign by T.C. Gerard O’Mahony to send a statue of the Blessed Virgin from Ireland to Lithuania, as a symbol of the spiritual togetherness of our peoples. O’Mahony's campaign lasted eight years, ending with the installation of the statue in the parish church at Siluva, site of the oldest Marian shrine in Europe.
It is very evident that Ireland is now closer to Lithuania than ever before in our histories. We are united by our membership of the European Union. Our Ministers now sit side-by-side at meetings of the Council of Ministers. We think alike on many issues on the EU agenda and we have similar ambitions for the future of Europe. In 2013, we will share a team Presidency, when Lithuania will preside over the Union for the first time, and we look forward to sharing with Lithuania our experience of six EU presidencies stretching back to 1975.
By far the most profound change, however, has come about as a consequence of the very significant number of Lithuanians who now live and work in Ireland.
As a traditional country of emigration going back to the terrible famine of the mid-19th century, we Irish are well placed to understand the challenges facing Lithuania today. We know what it is like to lose large numbers of talented young people. Ireland sustained economic losses for generations on account of the persistent emigration. It is only in recent decades that this pattern has been reversed.
Today Ireland is home to tens of thousands of Lithuanians who have arrived in recent years. We are delighted to have them and their presence enriches us tremendously. Yet as your economy expands, many Lithuanians currently living in Ireland will surely feel the pull of home. When they do return, they will bring with them valued skills and experience to help develop your own country as it seeks to reap the full advantages of EU membership. This has certainly been Ireland’s experience and I hope that those who do return will retain fond memories of Ireland and keep their connection with us.
You will be aware of recent very positive developments in the Peace Process in Northern Ireland. We are now witnessing a unique confluence in my country of peace, prosperity and partnership, which is enabling the best ever Ireland to reveal itself. Decades of conflict and despair have been replaced by a great sense of hope and confidence in the future. In saying that, we acknowledge the deep debt of gratitude we owe our friends in the international family, including throughout Europe, for your support and solidarity and I express my thanks for that again here tonight in Vilnius.
President Adamkus, it is my hope that Lithuania and Ireland will continue to build on the links that now exist between us as European partners. Our peoples have created a strong foundation of contact, friendship and co-operation that will serve us both well for the future.
May I ask everyone to raise their glasses to Lithuania, to Ireland, and to our future as European friends and partners.