Meeting with Alberts Sarkanis on the 30th Anniversary of the Embassy Building

On 5 July 2025, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Latvian Embassy building in Lithuania—originally inaugurated in 1995. To mark this special occasion, we invited fellow Latvians living in Lithuania for a conversation with the first Latvian Ambassador to Lithuania, Mr. Alberts Sarkanis.

Mr. Sarkanis fondly recalled the significant events of that era—from selecting and preparing the embassy’s new premises to hosting official visits and warm cultural gatherings. His stories transported attendees back to a time of determination, close cooperation, and hopeful visions for the future—foundations that have shaped today’s strong Latvia–Lithuania relationship. Guests were also inspired to learn that, beyond his ambassadorial duties, Mr. Sarkanis has made major contributions to linguistics, which include the The Lithuanian–Latvian dictionary compiled in 1995, among many others.

The Chairwoman of the Vilnius Latvian Association, Ms. Gunta Rone, reflected on these memories by recalling the early days of the Association. She emphasized that Latvians in Vilnius are active and remain connected—supported by the embassy, the Association, and the local Latvian school—and that a whole generation has now grown up speaking their native language and actively participating in community life.

A big thank you to everyone who came and shared their stories! Your presence made the event truly special. It was a wonderful reminder of how far we have come together—and a great reason to keep looking forward with pride and optimism.

Photo by The Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Lithuania

This project was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia under the Diaspora Support Programme.