News

Embassy of Lithuania in Israel and to South Africa for the first time ever arranged a festive commemoration of the 90th anniversary of restoration of the State of Lithuania in this faraway country. Lithuania celebrates the February 16th as its Independence Day – the day which has always been and will always remain the most cherished Lithuanian national holiday. The reception was held in the Jacaranda Ballroom of the prestigious Sheraton Pretoria Hotel on 31 January 2008.

 Lithuanian Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė invited South African Parliament members, Government representatives, business, culture and academic elite, diplomatic corps, litvaks and members of recently registered Lithuanian community.

Although Lithuanian Embassy has not yet been established in South Africa, the arriving guests were welcomed by the impressive receiving line: Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė and Counsellor of the Embassy Natalija Bacevičienė from Tel Aviv, Lithuanian Honorary Consuls in South Africa Raymond Joffe (Johannesburg), Alan Brett Smiedt (Cape Town), and Ivor Geoffrey Feinberg (Pretoria).

Lithuanian Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė greeted the abundant audience and signified that the history of both countries in seeking freedom and independence had a lot in common. Representative of the South African Government, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe observed that litvaks made significant contribution to prosperity of the country and expressed strong belief in the further development of bilateral cooperation in business, culture and tourism.   

The unforgettable touch of the event was the recital of Lithuanian violinist and vocalist Danguolė Klimienė, resident in South Africa for over 10 years and familiar to the public at large as Danielle. The elated audience met every piece for violin of Lithuanian, Italian, French, Spanish, and American composers with enthusiastic claps. Ripples of applause went after songs in Lithuanian, English, and Afrikaans.