King of Spain to arrive in Lithuania tomorrow

 

Tomorrow, May 6, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain arrive in Lithuania on a two-day state visit.

Wednesday, May 6, will start with the welcoming ceremony for H.M. King and Queen of Spain by President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania and Mrs. Alma Adamkienė. At 16:45, the King and the Queen will extend greetings to the people of Lithuania in the Daukanto Square. (Everybody who wishes to see the Royal Couple is invited to come to the Square).

Later in the day, the Royal Couple will visit the Antakalnis Cemetery to lay a wreath at the memorial to those killed in the struggle for the freedom of Lithuania. Afterwards, the King of Spain will have a meeting with Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.

In the evening, the President of Lithuania will host a state dinner to the honour of H.M. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. Toasts by the President of Lithuania and the King of Spain will be broadcasted live on the Lithuanian National Television.

On May 7, the King of Spain will meet with Speaker of the Seimas Arūnas Valinskas and representatives of the main parliamentary political parties. The Royal Couple will also visit Vilnius University, to inspect two exhibitions in the P. Smuglevičius Hall: "History of the Lithuanian Press: From the First Lithuanian Book 1547", and "Hispania Antiqua", a collection of antique maps and books related to Spain compiled by the Library of Vilnius University. In the University, the King and the Queen will have a meeting with students of Vilnius University and the European Humanities University as well as the Spanish community of Lithuania.

The King and the Queen of Spain will have lunch with the President and the First Lady of Lithuania in Trakai, after which the Royal Couple will leave for Madrid.

According to the President of Lithuania, the visit by H.M. King of Spain to Lithuania will open up new opportunities for the development of cultural and economic relations, and will enrich the good bilateral relations between the two states with new initiatives. "This will enhance further the relations between the two states and their people, and through cooperation we will continue building a united, secure and prosperous Europe. At the same time, it is a unique opportunity for the Lithuania of today to present itself to Spain and the wider Hispanic community of the world," President Adamkus underlined.