Kita karta : Lietuvos diplomatinė tarnyba 1990-1995 metais

ENIn March 1990 the reinstated Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Lithuania started implementing foreign policy of the newly independent Republic of Lithuania. Algirdas Saudargas became the first Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was supported by the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service in exile, which was established 50 years ago and resided in USA, Great Britain, Canada, other few countries. Members of Lithuanian Diplomatic Service were the ambassadors of independent Lithuania in 1918 -1940. In the years of Soviet occupation the LSSR Foreign Ministry and its foreign connections were tightly supervised by Moscow. In 1990, now once again the Republic of Lithuania was embracing a major diplomatic challenge -the international recognition of its statehood and renewal of diplomatic relations, all while the borders were still patrolled by Soviet Union. This diplomatic battle was actively supported by Lithuanian Diplomatic Service in exile, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme Council of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian exiles across the world. In 1990-1991 Lithuanian diplomats were tasked 'to seek recognition and establishment of the Republic of Lithuania as an entity of the international law'. To emphasize the historical justice, it should be said that the first ambassadors came from the ranks of the veterans whose diplomatic careers launched with the First Republic and lasted for decades.They were joined by the new generation of diplomats who ranked as Interim LR Trustees and worked from temporary bureaus set in private apartments, offices or hotel rooms in Brussels, Oslo, Warsaw and Copenhagen. Lithuanian representations were being established both in countries where there were already functioning diplomatic posts - as well as countries where they had to start afresh. In the international arena Lithuanian diplomatic struggle for the restoration of independence and statehood had several facets: open, legal and 'folk' diplomacy. Just one and half years after the restoration of Independence, following the so-called Moscow putsch, Lithuania was able to state both de facto and de jure that the diplomatic struggle for statehood was over. During August-September 1991 numerous countries came forward announcing the recognition of the Republic of Lithuania - and the renewal or establishment of diplomatic relations. Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign has won this recognition battle. Next goal was NATO and EU membership. The study material for the text was prepared by reviewing archive materials, scientific texts, articles, memoirs of and interviews with the diplomats of the Republic of Lithuania, various periodicals. [From the publication]