On President Putin’s instructions, Georgy Poltavchenko, a Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District, conveyed the message to the Lithuanian President.
The message said, in part:
“The centuries-old history of Russia and Lithuania has different pages. But alongside with dramatic events, it also has quite a few instances of a different kind, sometimes unfairly forgotten. These are examples of the closely interwoven fortunes of our peoples, economic and cultural sharing, and joint struggle against external threats.
“The personality of King Mindaugas, whom the ancient Russian chronicles called Mindovg, and the history of his relations with Russian princes and, above all, with one of the key statesmen of Rus during that period – Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky – is symbolical in this sense. The two did not always find a common understanding and occasionally sent their armed forces against each other, but with the years came to the conclusion that good-neighbourliness and a close union were a must.
“The recent years during which our countries have been building sovereign relations as new democracies have confirmed that when we take mutual account of each other’s interests, no problems, however complicated or delicate, are beyond the power of Russia and Lithuania. We have every possibility through joint efforts to continue to develop our bilateral ties, increase trade, expand investment cooperation, and successfully cooperate in transport, energy and other spheres confidently and dynamically. A good example of our constructive cooperation is the solutions found for the Kaliningrad transit issue. It also satisfies me to note that Lithuania intends to solve the problems of our compatriots there on the basis of European standards.
“I am sure that by continuing to move towards each other, we will be able to build a strong foundation for good-neighbourliness and multi-faceted Russian-Lithuanian cooperation in the 21st century in the name of the prosperity of our peoples.”