During the ceremony, L.Linkevičius pointed out that the newly erected monument symbolized the centuries-long cooperation between Lithuania and Hungary. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister also noted that in the 14th century the marriage of Jogaila and Jadwiga had linked Lithuania to the Christian Europe as well as strengthened ties between the Central European countries.
The unveiling ceremony of the monument by Professor Dalia Matulaitė in the Europe Grove at the foot of the Budapest Castle Hill was also attended by the Foreign Minister of Hungary János Mártonyi and the Undersecretary of State of Poland's Foreign Ministry Henryka Mościcka-Dendys.
The unveiling of the statue is one of the most important highlights of the presentation of Lithuania's culture and history in Hungary during the Lithuanian EU Presidency. The Saulius Karosas Charity and Support Foundation and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sponsored the monument.
Prior to the ceremony, the Lithuanian and Hungarian Foreign Ministers met to discuss bilateral cooperation initiatives, the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council, preparations for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in November in Vilnius, and other issues.
On the same day, the Foreign Minister L.Linkevičius also conferred the award of honour of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Lithuanian Diplomacy Star – on Loránd Endreffy, the Hungarian diplomat working in Thailand, for his kind and highly professional consular assistance to Lithuanian nationals in this country.
