On July 1st, the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Almaty hosted a Statehood Day reception
The ceremony began with the national anthems of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Lithuania, and the European Union, performed by the Almaty Youth Jazz Orchestra. Statehood Day, or King Mindaugas’ Coronation Day, is a national holiday in Lithuania celebrated annually on July 6th, commemorating the coronation of Mindaugas as King of Lithuania in 1253.
During the opening of the event, Egidijus Navikas, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, highlighted the most important events and achievements in Lithuanian history.
Ambassador Zhanibek Abdirash, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s office in Almaty, expressed his appreciation for the friendly relations between Kazakhstan and Lithuania, noting that this year marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Outgoing Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania in Almaty, Gvidas Kerušauskas, sincerely thanked Kazakhstan’s state institutions—especially the Almaty office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan—fellow consuls general and diplomats, Al-Farabi, Turan, and Satbayev universities, the “Atameken” business association, the A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, honorary consuls of the Republic of Lithuania in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the Lithuanian communities in Almaty and Kyrgyzstan, as well as business representatives from Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan for their cooperation and support in organizing various events and business missions. He also thanked Advisor Antanas Šatas for his four years of service and wished him success in his new diplomatic posting. He introduced the new Consul General of Lithuania in Almaty, Šarūnė Kubiliūtė. At the end of his speech, G. Kerušauskas gave special thanks to all the event’s supporters and sponsors.
Later, Ambassador E. Navikas and Consul General G. Kerušauskas presented the “AČIŪ” (Thank You) badge—an initiative of the Lithuanian Embassy in Kazakhstan and the Consulate General in Almaty—to friends and partners of Lithuania from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. After the official part of the ceremony, a festive lottery was held, during which guests won several prizes provided by the event’s sponsors and supporters.
During the festive evening, guests enjoyed musical performances by the Almaty Youth Jazz Orchestra and Yerlan Baibazarov with his live band. Attendees also had the opportunity to view reproductions of works by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.
