Lithuania in the News
28th October 2012
Prince Albert II of Monaco Makes an Official Visit to Lithuania
President Grybauskaitė with Prince Albert and Princess Charlene
exchanging gifts at the Presidential Palace. Photo courtesy lrp.lt
Prince Albert II of Monaco, accompanied by his wife, Princess Charlene, was the first Head of State of Monaco to make an official visit to Lithuania. They were received on Monday, 15 October 2012, by President Dalia Grybauskaitė at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, where in the evening she hosted an official dinner for the guests. On Tuesday, 16 October, Prince Albert met the Speaker of Parliament, Irena Degutienė, and Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.
Issues raised in discussions included Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency in 2013 of the European Union, the Euro crisis, energy security, nuclear safety, and environmental protection. President Grybauskaitė emphasised that a strong Europe is in both Monaco’s and Lithuania’s interests.
President Grybauskaitė also recalled that Prince Albert’s late father, Prince Rainier, “was among the first royalties in Europe who twenty years ago warmly received the factual head of state of Lithuania immediately after it regained independence - the Chairman of the Reconstituent Seimas, Professor Vytautas Landsbergis”. Incidentally, Professor Vytautas Landsbergis on October 18 celebrated his 80th birthday and was honoured by the President with the Vytis Cross order.

Further information: www.lrp.lt
http://www.palais.mc/monaco/palais-princier/english/h.s.h.-prince-albert-ii/news/2012/october/official-visit-to-lithuania-by-the-prince-and.2866.html