"Lithuania is proud of having true friends around the world who help us consolidate our independence and build a more secure, more advanced and culturally richer state. Your assistance and contribution to Lithuania today, is an invaluable and inspiring example for all architects of tomorrow's Lithuania," the President said.
Hillary Clinton was awarded the highest state decoration - the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great. The decoration was conferred on her for promoting bilateral relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Lithuania, and for the contribution to ensuring the security of the Baltic States. The former U.S. Secretary of State has consistently and strongly voiced support to Lithuania's energy security aspirations, actively backing Lithuania in its aims for the security in the Baltic Sea region and the extension of the NATO air policing mission in the Baltics for indefinite period.
Michael Davis was awarded the Cross of Officer of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. This American artist has been initiator and organizer of donating to Lithuania a unique art collection (362 pieces) by Lithuanian-born artist Arbit Blatas.
