This year Lithuania and Switzerland celebrate the centenary of their diplomatic relations. From 1921 these relations were contributing to bilateral cooperation until the Soviets occupied Lithuania in 1940. In 1991, a year after Lithuania had re-established its independence, the diplomatic relations were restored with remarkable enthusiasm and now target even greater ambitions of shared future.
On this occasion, the Lithuanian Central State Archives is presenting a virtual exhibition “Centenary of Swiss-Lithuanian Diplomatic Relations,” which recounts the history of bilateral friendship and cooperation with the help of documents stored in its depositary. The documents displayed here come from the collections of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian legations in London and Washington, D.C., as well as the collection of Stasys Lozoraitis, Head of the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service from 1987 to 1991. The majority of the exhibits are written records such as government orders to establish the Lithuanian mission and appoint its representatives to Switzerland, various letters, telegrams, copies of bilateral treaties, extracts from minutes of meetings, and many others. The exhibition also includes photo documents, most of which are individual portraits or group photos of Swiss and Lithuanian diplomats, as well as snapshots of different public and private events. Relevant video and audio documents have been added as well. Like in a magic performance, the video recordings restore to life the Lithuanian diplomats who worked in Switzerland during World War II. The audio document plays the voice of Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, President of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, from the “Voice of America” recording of 1991, where he speaks about the restoration of Swiss-Lithuanian diplomatic relations.
We believe the presented archival material will explain in greater detail the century-long diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Switzerland and add more colour to their understanding.
Translation made by Kristina Kačkuvienė.