Minister, Dear Friends,

Although Norway is not a typical Baltic Sea state – not even from the highest mountain in Norway you will be able to catch a glimpse of the Baltic waters – we feel that we belong to the Baltic Sea family. Our two countries have no common border, but we are neighbours, nevertheless. Culturally speaking, I would say we are close neighbours.

Therefore, it is a great pleasure to receive you here today. I am a warm admirer of Lithuania and have visited your country twice, as artistic director of Nationaltheatret of Norway. Your visit here is therefore a very special occasion to me as Minister of culture of this country. And our meeting this morning proved that we as Ministers with artistic background have a lot in common.

Through the theatre, I have had rich contact with Lithuania. As I see it, you have some of the best theatre directors of the world. Necrocius is special!

The first time I visited Vilnius was just before Christmas in 1990, the year before your country regained its freedom. I will never forget the sightseeing together with colleagues from the Youth Theatre – to the old churches that had been closed for many, many years. This was the first Christmas people were allowed to celebrate in the church.

The second time, we performed two of Ibsen’s plays in Vilnius during the spring festival: "Hedda Gabler" and "Ghosts". And we joined the demonstrations with hundreds and hundreds of people through the streets of your beautiful capital - with flowers and candles – in memory of those who were killed in the struggle for the freedom of speech, free media and free culture, for all that is contained in the notion of freedom.

It was a strong emotional experience! I will never forget! And this illustrates very clearly the importance of our ministries and the mutual interests we share.

Minister, your birthplace is in Kaunas, which has been described as the cradle of Lithuanian culture and tradition. It is a city of very old and established cultural traditions and a place where generations of Lithuanian artists, composers and writers lived and have left their imprint.
On one of my trips to Lithuania I went to this beautiful town – and I remember very well the old buildings and the wonderful music from the Middle Ages.

The relations between Norway and Lithuania date back many centuries. Men and women of our countries crossed the Baltic Sea to trade and build cultural ties.

Then the drama of European history took our nations on very different paths. For decades a dividing line ran through the Baltic Sea. Here was the division of Europe. Separation prevented us from building relations. The networks and routes of trade were reduced to a minimum.

Since 1990 we have embarked on a voyage of rediscovery. When gates opened up the real driving force in our bilateral relationship was people. Norwegians immediately identified with the people of "the singing revolution". The contacts between our two countries blossom. And at the core of all relations lies culture.

Cultures evolve and grow in a process of creative interchange.

The encounter of cultures can give rise to new cultural syntheses. Each country, however small, contributes to the richness of diversity. There is no country so big, it has no lessons to learn and none so small, it has no lessons to give. People invent, refine and embellish their own cultures through contact, contrast and exchange with the cultures of others.

I believe that intercultural exchanges are a valuable way of breaking down stereotypes and identifying shared values. Sustained contact and cooperation between countries increases understanding and acceptance.

Since the State Visit to Lithuania in 1998 Norway has increased its efforts in the field of cultural cooperation. Today it is flourishing. Through Fokus Baltikum, Norway aims at further strengthening the cultural ties with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Fokus Baltikum comprises a series of cultural events, workshops in the various arts and projects dealing with topical social issues, where the peoples of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway are invited to share their knowledge and experience, and get together to discuss the challenges of tomorrow.

A large number of individuals and public and private institutions both in Norway and the Baltic states are joining forces to achieve this goal.

I hope that Fokus Baltikum will contribute to further strengthening the close cooperation in a number of fields between our two countries.

Norway welcomes Lithuania as a European partner. We cooperate in the Council of Europe and other international fora.

Norway is very much committed to the Nordic –Baltic dialogue. The Nordic-Baltic cooperation is an example of how regional cooperation can serve us in a new and open Europe. Regional cooperation serves as a multiplier of opportunities and benefits.

Norway and Lithuania are also partners in the Baltic Sea Council. The cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region is a leading example of the merits of regional cooperation across the former divide in Europe. The cultural dimension - Ars Baltica - constitutes one of the pillars of cooperation within this forum.

I look forward to further developing cultural cooperation with Lithuania, both at bilateral as well as the multilateral level.

I propose a toast to you, Minister of Culture, and to the prosperous cultural cooperation between our two countries.