Lithuania celebrates 98th anniversary of restoration of independence

Lithuania celebrated the day of restoration of independence on Tuesday, with political leaders calling for national unity and belief in the Baltic country's prosperous future.

It is the 98th anniversary of restoration of the independent state of Lithuania.

"Behind us, there is a long way to independence, in front of us, there is free and united Lithuania, continuously created and strengthened by love and dedication of each of us," Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said in her greeting address to the Lithuanian people.

"If Lithuania needs to defend itself again, we will not be alone as we were in some fatal historical moments," Grybauskaite told people who gathered to celebrate the independence.

Two Spanish fighter planes currently responsible for security of the Baltic airspace flew over the square for the occasion.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius in his greeting statement urged citizens to "work together in order to achieve our country's well-being."

"In a global environment full of political disquiet, we are united by belief in our homeland and the idea of its prosperity," Butkevicius said in the statement.

The outcome of the First World War created the preconditions for Lithuania, then still suffering from the German occupation, to reach the long-term goal of the nation: restore an independent state.

In 1917, over 200 delegates convened for the Vilnius Conference and adopted a resolution stating the objective to make Lithuania an independent state, which was eventually achieved on Feb. 16, 1918. Endit