LITHUANIAN EU PRESIDENCY LAUNCHED IN NEW YORK
On 8 July, Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union was launched in New York with a concert by the Lithuanian opera singer Ms. Laima Jonutytė and the pianist Mrs. Vilija Naujokaitienė, followed by reception. United Nations Deputy Secretary General ambassador Jan Eliasson, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations ambasador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Head of EU delegation at the United Nations ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting and Consul General of Lithuania in New York Mr. Valdemaras Sarapinas delivered opening statements.
Photos by Marius Vilemaitis
Opening remarks by H.E. ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN
at the event to mark the begining of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining us here today, on the occasion of an important first in the history of my nation, the first ever presidency of the Council of the European Union.
No need to say it is a very special moment for all of us who have seen our country Lithuania to return on the map of the world twenty three years ago.
Those past twenty three years have been busy indeed, marked by profound transformations, solid achievements and remarkable firsts.
Gaining diplomatic recognition, building national institutions and the foundations for a resilient and open economy, joining the major international organisations, including the UN, creating from scratch a national diplomatic service, sending our first peace-keepers on international missions, adopting the first development cooperation programme … .
In the lifetime of a single generation, we were boldly going, to borrow a famous phrase, where none of us had ever gone before.
Where we had been short on experience, we compensated for by energy, dedication, and passion.
Twenty three years later, this last 1 July marked yet another first in our modern history- taking over the EU presidency from Ireland, whose effectiveness and commitment to the European cause and effective multilateralism are well known and respected.
We are assuming this role with a clear promise that like with so many firsts in our modern history, we will apply ourselves to the task ahead with energy, dedication and passion.
We are assuming this role as a reaffirmation of our determination to engage and seek new opportunities and avenues of cooperation with our partners and the whole of the international community for a world that is a better, safer and more just place for us all.
The leitmotif that we have chosen for our six months at the helm of the EU Council is a credible, growing and open Europe.
These qualities are as important for the European Union as for the United Nations as a whole if we are to live up to the expectations vis-a-vis the internationally agreed Millennium development goals and move beyond, to shape and realize our common sustainable future and a more secure and prosperous world for us all.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us here today. We look forward to working actively and closely together.
