Canada – Lithuania
Diplomatic Relations 1991 to 2021
On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the re-establishment of relations on August 26, 1991
A LONG HISTORY OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
- Lithuania’s diplomatic, consular and trade relations with Canada were first initiated by Lithuania January, 1919 in London England.
- Canada was part of the British Empire. Its foreign affairs were conducted from London.
- Lithuania’s and Canada’s relations were managed by a representative of the United Kingdom in Lithuania‘s then capital, Kaunas or by Lithuania’s Mission in London.
- After 1926, each Dominion of the British Empire was free to independently negotiate treaties with foreign states. In reality a number of treaties signed by Lithuania and Great Britain applied to the Dominion of Canada. For example, the agreement between Britain and Lithuania respecting commercial relations (May 6, 1922) stipulates that British Dominions will enjoy “most favourable” standing in Lithuania.
- Lithuania‘s relations with Canada were subsequently expanded by a number of treaties which were signed by the two countries.
- Canada, as a signatory of the Treaty of the Peace of Versailles, agreed to assigning the territory of Klaipėda on the Baltic seacoast to Lithuania.
- A mass wave of immigrants to Canada in 1926-1928 necessitated the establishment of Lithuania’s Consulate in Canada.
HONORARY CONSULS of LITHUANIA in CANADA
1937 – 1949 | G.L.P. Grant-Suttie | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
1949 – 1959 | Vytautas J. Gylys | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
1962 – 1989 | Dr. Jonas Žmuidzinas | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
1990 – 2004 | Haris Lapas | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
1996 – present | Christopher Juras | Honorary Consul Vancouver |
1999 – 2009 | Antanas Vyšniauskas | Honorary Consul Calgary |
2002 – 2006 | Alan Vytautas Pavilanis | Honorary Consul Montreal |
2004 – 2009 | Liudvikas Vytenis Matukas | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
2004 – 2015 | Nejolla Korris | Honorary Consul Edmonton |
2007 – present | Arūnas Staškevičius | Honorary Consul General Montreal |
2009 – present | Paulius Viktoras Kuras | Honorary Consul General Toronto |
2017 – present | Anthony Romas Kasper | Honorary Consul Calgary |
In 1937, a prominent Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel, G.L.P. Grant-Suttie was appointed the first Honorary Consul General of Lithuania to Canada. The first diplomat from Lithuania, Vytautas J. Gylys, was appointed in 1949.
Hover over the article to enlarge it.
First interview with the newly appointed Honorary Consul General, Vytautas Gylys.
Lights of Homeland, 1949.XII.24
Although in 1944 Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, Lithuanian consular representation has operated in Canada without interruption since 1937. Canada did not recognize the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States and held this position until Lithuania restored its independence on March 11, 1990. Canada was the first G7 nation to recognize Lithuania as an independent country.
A direct question regarding the status of the recognition of the Baltic States is put forward in the House of Commons in 1954.
RESTORATION and RECOGNITION
Debates in the Canadian Parliament regarding the recognition of Lithuania‘s restoration of independence began on March 12 in the House of Commons and in the Senate on March 14, 1990. Discussions continued throughout the year until Canada, the first G7 nation to do so, recognized Lithuania de facto and de jure on August 26 in Ottawa and re-established diplomatic relations September 2, 1991 in Vilnius.
Click below:
Following passage by Canada’s Parliament of the resolution to recognize Lithuania as an independent country on April 26, 1991, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced that Canada will send a diplomatic mission to the capital cities of the Baltic States to officially establish diplomatic ties with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The delegation was headed by the Minister of International Development and Trade, Hon. Michael Wilson and included representatives of the Baltic communities in Canada.
Canada took a number of very deliberate steps in order to reinforce the establishment of relations with three independent Baltic countries:
- Instead of flying on a commercial airline, the delegation flew into the capital cities on an official government of Canada plane.
- As control of airspace was still in flux and airspace was not fully regulated, the Canadian flight path selected deliberately bypassed Moscow, although it was still necessary to fly over East Germany, Poland and Soviet air space.
- Symbolically, Canada felt that it was important that an official government of Canada plane land directly in the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in recognition of their sovereignty.
As the plane reached East Germany, 2 fighter planes appeared and flew on either side of the Canadian plane until it reached Lithuanian airspace, then disappeared. The delegation reached Vilnius airport with no further incidents.
The Lithuanian contingent of Canada’s diplomatic mission. From l to r: Lithuanian Canadian Community (LCC) Vice-president for liaison with communities and Lithuania Gabija Petrauskas, Mrs. Wilson, Head of Canada’s delegation: Minister Michael Wilson, LCC Vice-president for governmental relations and media Algis Pacevicius and LCC President, Juozas Kristolaitis. Photo: from LMAC collection.
In Vilnius, on September 2, 1991 Minister Michael Wilson representative of the Government of Canada and Gediminas Vagnorius Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania signed a protocol that formally re-established diplomatic ties between Canada and Lithuania.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Archive
ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION BEGINS
Canada‘s Ministries of External Affairs and International Trade through Canada’s Bureau of Assistance for Central and Eastern Europe, began work with the Baltic States. Bilateral Technical Assistance Projects for the Baltic States numbered close to 100 by early 1993. Projects were proposed in the areas of agriculture, democratic development and human rights, education, energy and nuclear safety, entrepreneurship and management training, environment, finance/banking, health care, humanitarian assistance, land management, public administration, and transportation.
The first bilateral treaty was signed in 1994 – Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of Canada on Trade and Commerce, Vilnius 1994.VIII.08.
Activities in the spheres of politics, culture and social relationships between the two countries increased. Interest in trade and investment opportunities between Canada and Lithuania was growing. At the same time the influx of Lithuanian immigrants into Canada increased significantly. The need to establish a formal embassy of Lithuania in Canada became evident.
Republic of Lithuania – Ambassadors to Canada
1995 – 2000 | Alfonsas Eidintas 1995-1997 Washington 1997-1999 Ottawa |
2000 – 2002 | Rimantas Šidlauskas |
2002 – 2008 | Sigutė Jakštonytė |
2008 – 2012 | Gintė Damušis |
2012 – 2016 | Vytautas Žalys |
2017 – 2019 | Darius Pranckevičius |
2019 – present | Darius Skusevičius |
Presentation of the credentials of Lithuania’s Ambassador to Canada, Alfonsas Eidintas to Rt. Hon. Romeo LeBlanc, Ottawa, June 15, 1995.
After the presentation ceremony the new Ambassador with members of the Lithuanian Canadian Community and government officials. Third from the left, Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Canada, Haris Lapas and Gražina Lapas, Ambassador Eidintas, Birutė Eidintas. Fifth from the right Rūta Danaitytė, LCC Ottawa region President and third from the right Algirdas Vaičiūnas, President of the LCC. Photos: from „Diplomatų šypsenos ir pokštai“ by A. Eidintas
Article in the weekly Lithuanian Canadian newspaper „Lights of Homeland“ announcing the appointment of the first Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada.
Ambassador Eidintas operated from his post in Washington, DC until 1997 when he was transferred to Ottawa to serve in Canada directly.
“…I will always be pleased and proud that in those days I succeeded in convincing the Government of Lithuania to establish a separate and fully operational Embassy in Canada. This was necessary to gain support for our aims to achieve membership in NATO and to strengthen our relationship with Lithuanians in Canada. This step fully paid off. I recall the first official visit to Canada that I organized for the President of Lithuania, V. Adamkus. Unfortunately, it had to end prematurely due to the sudden resignation by Lithuania’s Prime Minister, R. Paksas which required the President to immediately return to Lithuania.”
Alfonsas Eidintas’ email 2021.II.12
Running time: 6 min.
Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chrétien
(start 0:01)
Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada
(start 3:16)
Republic of Lithuania‘s Ambassador to Canada, Alfonsas Eidintas
(start 4:32)
Video: Lithuanian Museum Archives of Canada collection
Presentation of credentials by Lithuania’s Ambassador to Canada Rimantas Šidlauskas in 2000, Rideau Hall, Ottawa. From l to r: Lithuania’s Ambassador Rimantas Šidlauskas, Canada’s Governor-General the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Canada
Presentation of credentials by Lithuania’s Ambassador to Canada Sigutė Jakštonytė in 2002, Rideau Hall, Ottawa. From l to r: Lithuania’s Ambassador Sigutė Jakštonytė, Canada’s Governor-General the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson. Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Canada
Presentation of credentials by Lithuania’s Ambassador Gintė Damušis, February, 2008 Rideau Hall, Ottawa. From l to r: Rūta Kličienė, Lithuanian Canadian Community representative, Miglė Jankauskienė, Lithuanian Embassy, Lithuania’s Ambassador Gintė Damušis, Canada’s Governor-General the Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean, Mrs. Jadvyga Damušis.
Lithuania‘s Ambassador to Canada, Vytautas Žalys presents credentials to the Rt. Hon. David Lloyd Johnston, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, September 13, 2012. Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Canada
Lithuania‘s Ambassador to Canada, Darius Pranckevičius, presents credentials to the Rt. Hon. David Lloyd Johnston, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, August 2017. Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Canada
Excerpts from the speech given by the Rt. Hon. David Lloyd Johnston at the ceremony for the presentation of Letters of Credence by Ambassador Pranckevičius in 2017.
Ceremony for Presentation of credentials by Lithuania’s Ambassador to Canada Darius Skusevičius, December, 2019 Rideau Hall, Ottawa. Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Canada
All of Lithuania’s Ambassadors carried out their diplomatic duties within the Canadian political sphere and liaised with the Lithuanian Canadian community across Canada.
BALTIC EVENINGS ON PARLIAMENT HILL
An important event that drew key politicians and the diplomatic corps stationed in Ottawa as well as officials of Canada’s federal government was the Baltic Evening dinner held on Parliament Hill. Organized annually since 1973 by the Baltic Federation in Canada and sponsored by members of the Canadian Parliament: the House of Commons and/or the Senate, these Baltic Evenings on Parliament Hill were influential and made it possible for a sizeable number of members of the Canadian Baltic communities to meet directly with Members of Canada’s Parliament – Senate and the House of Commons, and various high ranking government officials, including some Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, international diplomats, etc. This was the best opportunity to present direct, reliable and truthful information about the socio-political conditions in the soviet-occupied Baltic States and topics of priority to the Canadian-Baltic communities.
It was also a unique opportunity for the Honorary Consul Generals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to be recognized as part of the diplomatic corps. The day before a Baltic Evening was held, the Consul Generals were invited to observe the Parliamentary Session from the gallery specifically allocated to diplomats. They were formally presented at the Senate and the House of Commons and attended Committee meetings as members of the diplomatic corps. The Soviet Embassy expressed displeasure with this constant reminder that Canada did not recognize the Baltic States as part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSSR).
V Baltic Evening, 1977
From left: Senator Paul Yuzyk, soloist Gina Čapkauskienė (Montreal), Senator Andrew Thompson, Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan, Irena Mikeljohn (Toronto), Juoza Danys (Ottawa). Photo: L. Giriūnas
XIII Baltic Evening, 1985
From left: Minister for Multiculturalism Jack Murta, Kristina Augaitienė (Ottawa), Rūta Danaitytė (Ottawa), Speaker of the House of Commons John Bosley, Liucija Skripkutė (Hamilton). Photo: L. Giriūnas
XV Baltic Evening, 1987
From left: Juozas Danys (Ottawa), Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Don Mazankowski, Sarmite Bulte Member of Parliament (Toronto), Talivaldis Kronbergs President of the Latvian Federation in Canada. Photo: L. Giriūnas
Baltic Evening at Confederation Hall, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa. Photo: from LMAC collection
From left: Halina Žmuidzinienė, Honorary Consul General dr. Jonas Žmuidzinas, Senator Renaude Lapoint former Speaker of the Senate. Photo: Juozas Danys
XV Baltic Evening, 1987
From left: President of the Latvian Community in Canada Talivaldis Kronbergs, Member of Parliament Andrew Witer, President of the Lithuanian Canadian Community Algis Pacevičius, Ukrainian Canadian Community President A. Kryworuchko. Photo: Juozas Danys
XVII Baltic Evening, 1989
From l to r: Balys Gajauskas(dissident from Lithuania), Rasa Kurienė, Canadian Lithuanian Community Cultural Committee Chair, Hon. Joe Clark, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada collection
Canada‘s Minister of Finance, Hon. Michael Wilson speaks at the XVII Baltic Evening. Photo: Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada collection
Running time: 11 min.
Liudas Matukas, Honorary Consul General Toronto
Restoration of Lithuania‘s Independence Commemoration 2005.III.20
(start 0:01)
Sigutė Jakštonytė, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada
V16 Lithuanian Independence Day Commemoration 2006.II.12
(start 1:56)
Gintė Damušytė, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada
V16 Lithuanian Independence Day Commemoration 2008.II.17
(start 3:28)
Paulius Kuras, Honorary Consul General Toronto
Restoration of Lithuania‘s Independence Commemoration 2009.III.8
(start 6:41)
Gintė Damušytė, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada
Restoration of Lithuania‘s Independence Commemoration 2010.III,21
(start 9:36)
Videos: Čelsovas Jonys
Running time: 3:53 min.
Comments from the video by the Foreign Ministers of Lithuania and Canada:
Gabrielius Landsbergis
Canada is one of the brightest stars in defending democracy, human rights, the principle of rule of law. These are the core values, that are very important to Lithuania too, having restored its freedom and already celebrating it for three decades.
Also, we should not forget our common history. Canada had offered asylum to Lithuanian people, who were fleeing during both, the First and the Second World Wars, and had chosen Canada as their home. And now Canada, I am sure, can rejoice in a large Lithuanian community, which makes our relationship even stronger.
Marc Garneau
We are looking forward for the next thirty years of diplomatic relations between our countries and to, generally speaking, build that relationship between Canada and Lithuania.
A word from the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada:
Darius Skusevičius
Just as it did 30 years ago, the Lithuanian Canadian Community and its organizations continue to actively participate in promoting relations between Canada and Lithuania.
Canada was the first G7 nation to recognize Lithuania’s independence and to re-establish diplomatic relations.
This exhibition serves to once again demonstrate how much Lithuania and Canada have in common. We intend to continue to build on the good relations developed over the past 30 years by strengthening our co-operation in the areas of culture, economic development, security, defence, foreign affairs and other important areas.
CONCLUSION
This 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Lithuania, marks the continuation of the long-standing bilateral relationship that has been in place, uninterrupted since 1919. Over the past 30 years Lithuania as an independent country has enjoyed successful bilateral trade opportunities with Canada that reached $316.6 million Canadian dollars (in 2018) and signed a number of new trade and investment agreements:
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of Canada on Trade and Commerce, Vilnius, 1994
- Convention between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of Canada for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, Vilnius, 1996
- Agreement on Social Security between the Republic of Lithuania and Canada, Vilnius, 2005
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of Canada concerning Youth Exchange, Vilnius, 2009
In 2004, Canada was one of the first countries to ratify Lithuania‘s accession to NATO and both countries to this day continue to enjoy positive, co-operative and constructive defence relations through NATO. Both countries continue to work closely in many multilateral forums. The bilateral relationship between Canada and Lithuania that started 102 years ago in 1919, continues to this day.
* * * * *
Prepared by: Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada
Editing: Gabija Petrauskienė
Translation: Sigina Katkauskaitė
Video editing: Aleksandras Valavičius
Sources
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania website
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada archives and website
The Governor General of Canada website
Canada. Parliament. Debates of the House of Commons (Hansard), Ottawa
Canada. Parliament Senate. Debates of the Senate (Hansard), Ottawa
Gaida Pr. et.al., „Lithuanians in Canada“, Toronto, 1967
Eidintas, Alfonsas, „Diplomatų šypsenos ir pokštai“, Vilnius, 2020
Pahapill, John, „The Baltic Federation in Canada“, Toronto, 2007
Jankauskas, Giedrius, „Kongresinė akcija“, Vilnius, 2009
Lights of Homeland newspaper and photo archive, Toronto
Kuras, Joana, personal archive
Petrauskienė, Gabija, personal memoir and archive
This post is also available in: LT