|
|||
Lithuania is a European Union member state in the geographical centre of Europe, situated along the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The first written mention of Lithuania (Lituae) is found in a medieval German manuscript, the Quedlinburg Chronicle in 1009. In 2009, Lithuania is going to solemnly celebrate the millennium of its name both in the country and abroad. On that occasion, a number of national and international scientific, cultural, architectural, artistic, and social projects are going to be carried out. One of the projects is the Millennium Odyssey. One Name: Lithuania, a voyage of yachtsmen around the world, is going to unite Lithuanians around the globe to celebrate together the millennium of Lithuania’s name.
The first settlers came to Lithuania in the 10th century BC. Since then, our country has been developing for almost 12,000 years. Differently from other two Baltic States, Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania had its own state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae) in the Middle Ages. The official coronation of Mindaugas as King of Lithuania on July 6 in 1253 is an official recognition of Lithuanian statehood as the Kingdom of Lithuania. In the 14th century, Lithuania occupied the territories of present-day Belarus, Ukraine, parts of Poland and Russia, and was the largest country in Europe. The Statutes of Lithuania, which have codified all the legislation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, witness that Lithuania has formed an integral part of the Western Europe as early as in the 16th century. Moreover, the Constitution of May 3, adopted by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1791, is generally recognized as Europe’s first (following the adoption of the French Constitution) and the world’s second modern codified national constitution (following the ratification of the United States Constitution).
The first Statute of Lithuania was adopted in 1529, with 40 years left until Union of Lublin was signed, which united Poland and Lithuania and established a single state, the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. It existed for more than 200 years, until the neighbouring states forfeited its territories.
The interwar period (1918-1940) was the heyday of Lithuania. On 16th February 1918 the Council of Lithuania proclaimed the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania. The enthusiasm of the young state was at its height with the heroic deed of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas – on 15th July 1933 they flew across the Atlantic Ocean without landing, thereby making a very significant flight in the history of world aviation.
In 1940, at the beginning of the Second World War, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, then by Germany and then again by the Soviet Union, remaining remained a Soviet republic until 1990.
Lithuania‘s aspiration for independence and the peaceful anticommunist movement brought down the communistic Soviet Union. The summer of 1988 marked the revival of the Baltic States, the phenomenon known as the Singing Revolution. On 11th March 1990 Lithuania declared the reestablishment of its independence.
In 2004, Lithuania returned to European family by joining the NATO and the European Union. Lithuania is a multiparty, parliamentary democracy. Its type of government is a parliamentary republic.
Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, is studded with masterpieces of baroque architecture. The Old Town of Vilnius is inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Together with the Austrian city of Linz, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius was designated the European Capital City of Culture for the year 2009 – Millennium year of the name of Lithuania.
The first settlers came to Lithuania in the 10th century BC. Since then, our country has been developing for almost 12,000 years. Differently from other two Baltic States, Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania had its own state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae) in the Middle Ages. The official coronation of Mindaugas as King of Lithuania on July 6 in 1253 is an official recognition of Lithuanian statehood as the Kingdom of Lithuania. In the 14th century, Lithuania occupied the territories of present-day Belarus, Ukraine, parts of Poland and Russia, and was the largest country in Europe. The Statutes of Lithuania, which have codified all the legislation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, witness that Lithuania has formed an integral part of the Western Europe as early as in the 16th century. Moreover, the Constitution of May 3, adopted by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1791, is generally recognized as Europe’s first (following the adoption of the French Constitution) and the world’s second modern codified national constitution (following the ratification of the United States Constitution).
The first Statute of Lithuania was adopted in 1529, with 40 years left until Union of Lublin was signed, which united Poland and Lithuania and established a single state, the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. It existed for more than 200 years, until the neighbouring states forfeited its territories.
The interwar period (1918-1940) was the heyday of Lithuania. On 16th February 1918 the Council of Lithuania proclaimed the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania. The enthusiasm of the young state was at its height with the heroic deed of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas – on 15th July 1933 they flew across the Atlantic Ocean without landing, thereby making a very significant flight in the history of world aviation.
In 1940, at the beginning of the Second World War, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, then by Germany and then again by the Soviet Union, remaining remained a Soviet republic until 1990.
Lithuania‘s aspiration for independence and the peaceful anticommunist movement brought down the communistic Soviet Union. The summer of 1988 marked the revival of the Baltic States, the phenomenon known as the Singing Revolution. On 11th March 1990 Lithuania declared the reestablishment of its independence.
In 2004, Lithuania returned to European family by joining the NATO and the European Union. Lithuania is a multiparty, parliamentary democracy. Its type of government is a parliamentary republic.
Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, is studded with masterpieces of baroque architecture. The Old Town of Vilnius is inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Together with the Austrian city of Linz, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius was designated the European Capital City of Culture for the year 2009 – Millennium year of the name of Lithuania.
Lithuania at a glance
Surface area: 65 200 m2
Population: 3 382 041
Ethnic composition: Lithuanian 84.3%
Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic
Official state language: Lithuanian. Considered the most conservative living Indo-European language
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): LT 98.139 billion
GDP per capita: LT 29,073 (2007 est.)
Labour force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 30.6%
services: 62% (1st quarter, 2008 est.)
For more information we invite you to visit website www.lithuania.lt
Surface area: 65 200 m2
Population: 3 382 041
Ethnic composition: Lithuanian 84.3%
Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic
Official state language: Lithuanian. Considered the most conservative living Indo-European language
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): LT 98.139 billion
GDP per capita: LT 29,073 (2007 est.)
Labour force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 30.6%
services: 62% (1st quarter, 2008 est.)
For more information we invite you to visit website www.lithuania.lt
