Lithuania in the news
15th July, 2005
Lithuania’s National Day a Resounding Success At EXPO 2005 in Japan
Lithuania’s pavilion at EXPO 2005
Lithuania’s pavilion at EXPO 2005 in Aichi, Japan is achieving outstanding success. It is already a contender for the top few best pavilions in EXPO 2005. The pavilion’s interior space is interestingly arranged around a model of the double helix DNA molecule, in theme with EXPO’s message of "Nature’s Wisdom", with dynamic audio-visual displays arranged on the insides of the two spirals. So far over half a million visitors have visited Lithuania’s pavilion, with more than a million visitors expected before the EXPO2005 finishes on September 25, 2005.
On July 6, Lithuania’s National Day, 6000 people, up till then a record number, came to "Expo Dome" to hear a concert by leading Lithuanian artists. By all reports it was an impressive performance. Among the artist were the Lithuanian ballet stars Eglë Đpokaitë and Nerijus Juđka, the outstanding prize-winning choir "Brevis", tenor Edgaras Montvidas, making his mark in Covent Garden, and many other mostly young performers. Australian Lithuanians will be interested to note that among the performers was the folk group "Sutaras", who delighted audiences during the 2004 Melbourne Lithuanian Arts Festival at the end of last year.
Interior of Lithuania’s pavilion
On the occasion of Lithuania’s National Day, an official Lithuanian Government delegation, led by the Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, visited Japan. Mr. Brazauskas was received by Japan’s Emperor, Japan’s Prime Minister Hirofumiu Nakasone and other high Japanese officials.
The Lithuanian EXPO 2005 website www.expo2005.lt/en/ also provides very interesting panoramic movies of a number of Lithuanian attractions. The display of the M.K.Čiurlionis Art Gallery in Kaunas is very impressive and well worth a visit. The website can be viewed in English and Lithuanian versions, but to see the panoramic displays one has to go to the Lithuanian version (press "lietuvškai" and go to "Panoraminës Nuotraukos")

Further information: www.expo2005.or.jp or www.expo2005.lt/en/ "Lietuvos Rytas" 12/7/05