Taking part in the gala dinner was President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, President Raimonds Vējonis of Latvia, President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet, the Mayor of Münster, representatives of the German business community, and other guests.
In her speech, the President said that the treaties signed in Westphalia almost 400 years ago still served as a symbol of peace and respect for national sovereignty. The three Baltic States, celebrating the centennials of modern statehood this year, know by heart the true price of wars and deportations. They know that peace is not a given – it has to be defended. Therefore today, when we hear the word “war” ‒ be it trade, information or cyber ‒ more often than the word “peace”, when aggression continues in Ukraine, Europe needs to stay united.
The President emphasized that Europe had to take on more responsibility for its own security and for the preservation of peace. It was necessary to strengthen the rule of law, promote solidarity and trust among ourselves.
The President underscored the importance of relations between Lithuania and Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia – a land that carried special meaning to our country. After the Second World War, it was home to many refugees from Lithuania and the other Baltic States, including the Lithuanian philosopher Wilhelm Storost-Vydūnas who wrote about peace. Today, North Rhine-Westphalia is a major center of energy generation, car-making and electronics. It is Lithuania’s main trading partner in Germany with ongoing 14 partnership agreements.
