IINSTITUTIONNSTITUTION OOFF THETHE PPRESIDENTRESIDENT OOFF THETHE RREPUBLICEPUBLIC OOFF LLITHUANIAITHUANIA PRESIDENTIAL INSTITUTION

Presidential Institution 4 Presidential Functions 6 Presidential Activities 8 History 10 CONTENTS PRESIDENT

Biography 12 Leisure and Interests 13

PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

Presidential Palace: Facts 14 Presidential Palace: History 16 Inside the Palace: Executive Office of the President 18 Ceremonial Staircase. The Negotiations Hall 20 The Blue Hall 21 The White Hall 22 The Meeting Hall. The Consultations Hall 24 The Column Hall. The Green Hall 25 The Hall of Maps. The Hall of Ambassadors 26 The Waiting Room 27 “We say: human life is an absolute value. We have to surround it with truth and justice and to protect it by laws and state institutions. By the presiden- tial powers conferred upon me, I strive for an honest and truthful, thoughtful and helpful, responsible and moral civil service system to be established at all levels in , operating on the principle of serving, not governing, the people, i.e. providing them with help, assistance and the possibility of making a choice. We do not need hollow slogans; what we need is dynamic and pro-active patriotism and citizens deeply feeling for and cherishing their Homeland, those who are ready to give and sacrifice.

[...] Living in Homeland means working and creating steadily and continu- ously, it means maturing and giving growth to others. I invite us all to join our efforts in this work and I call on you to help me so that I can help you. You can do anything – I mean everything or almost everything My heart, my experience, my abilities are with you and for you. I have no other goal. I will not promise you an easier life, because there is no easy life anywhere. I invite you to work together to make our life easier.”

Inaugural Address by President , Cathedral Square, 26 February 1998 PRESIDENTIAL INSTITUTION

The original meaning of the Latin word praesidens (praesidentis) is “the presiding one.” The President of the Republic of Lithuania is . He represents the State of Lithuania and performs everything with which he is charged by the Constitution and laws.

The President of the Republic is elected by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania for a five-year term by univer- sal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot. A Lithuanian citizen by origin, who has lived in Lithuania for not less than the last three years and who is not bound by an oath or pledge to a foreign state, if he has reached the age of not less than 40 prior to the election day and if he has not been recognized incapable by court or has not served any punishment imposed by a court judgment, may be elected President of the Republic.

1. 2. 4. CITIZENSHIP HONESTY 3. SERVING THE PEOPLE 4.

The President‘s term of office begins aer he, in the presence of Members of the The title of the President of the Republic is conferred for a lifetime. In the event that , takes an oath to the Nation. the President is unable for some reason to hold office, it is temporarily held by the Speaker of the Seimas. “I, Valdas Adamkus, swear to the People to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania and its Consti- The President of the Republic forms a team of advisers of political confidence. Taking tution, to respect and implement the laws, and to protect the integrity of the into account the priorities listed by the President in his agenda, permanent groups territories of Lithuania; of advisers are set up. The Press Service also assists the President in his activities. swear to conscientiously execute the Office of President of the Republic and The Office of the President helps the President realize his functions by taking care of to be equally just to each individual; financial, economic maintenance and other maers. swear to strengthen, to the best of my ability, the independence of Lithuania, and to serve the Homeland, democracy and the well-being of the people of Lithuania. So help me God!”

5. PRESIDENTIAL FUNCTIONS

RESPONSIBILITY DUTY 5. OPENESS 6.

In Lithuania, State power shall be executed by the Seimas, the President of the President Holds Primary Powers in Foreign Policy Maers: Republic and the Government, and the Judiciary. The scope of power shall be limited by the Constitution. • The President decides the basic issues of foreign policy and, together with the State institutions shall serve the people. Government, conducts foreign policy. Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania • He signs international treaties and submits them to the Seimas for ratification. • The President appoints and recalls, upon the submission of the Government, diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Lithuania to foreign states and in- ternational organizations. •He receives leers of credence and recall of diplomatic representatives of for- eign states; confers the highest diplomatic ranks and special titles.

6. 7. 8. 9.

President Performs Significant Functions in Domestic Policy: President Acts as Major Guarantor of Effective Judiciary:

• The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the State. • The President submits candidatures of the Supreme Court justices and a candi- • He heads the State Defense Council; and he confers the highest military dature for the President of the Supreme Court to the Seimas. ranks. • He appoints judges and the President of the Court of Appeal. • The President appoints and dismisses, upon the assent of the Seimas, the Com- • The President appoints judges and presidents of regional and local courts. mander of the Armed Forces and the Head of the Security Service. • He submits to the Seimas the candidatures for three justices of the Constitu- • He holds the right of legislative initiative at the Seimas and also the right to tional Court and a candidature for the President of the Constitutional Court. veto the laws passed by the Seimas. • The President appoints and dismisses, upon the assent of the Seimas, the Prime The President grants citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, grants pardons to Minister. He charges him to form the Government and approves its composition. convicted persons, and confers State decorations of 32 classes. • The President has the right to apply to the Constitutional Court. • In cases provided for by the Constitution, the President may dissolve the Seimas.

7. PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES

TRANSPARENCY COOPERATION 10. SINCERITY 11. 12.

Although the presidential functions are listed in the Constitution of the Republic public support also constitute an important factor, giving special weight to his of Lithuania, each president moulds and reshapes the presidential institution political activity. through his activities. For example, the Constitution states that the President decides the basic issues of foreign policy. It is the prerogative of the President, In foreign policy, the Constitution provides for close cooperation between the Seimas and Government to agree on and define such issues. President, Seimas and Government. In respect of foreign policy maers, the po- litical weight of the institutions in which each of the powers is vested depends on At the beginning of each term of office, the president sets the priorities of future the activity of the relevant institution and the authority it wields in society. activity. Based on these priorities, he forms the presidential team and adopts the presidential agenda. The Constitution provides for a number of models of The active stance taken by President Valdas Adamkus in respect of the situa- presidential activity, which are predetermined by the president’s personality, tion in not only increased Lithuania’s international authority but also international and local political situation. The President’s moral authority and showed the wide range of possible international activities by the president.

8. The annual reports delivered by the President at the Seimas have become a significant political event on the domestic scene. The State of the Nation Address focuses on key foreign and domestic issues and also defines urgent questions for political deliberation.

The President may affect the political agenda by submiing dra laws to the Seimas or referring the laws passed to the Seimas for reconsideration. A steady and continuous dialogue between the President and rep- resentatives of other state institutions, including meetings with parliamentary groups, Speaker of the Seimas, Prime Minister, Ministers, Prosecutor General, and judges of courts, is of immense importance.

13. 14. 9. HISTORY

In March of 1919, the Council of On May 15. 1920, the Constitu- Lithuania elected Antanas Sme- ent Seimas proclaimed Lithuania tona the first President of the Re- a democratic republic. On April public of Lithuania. The President 10, the Provisional Constitution and the Cabinet of Ministers were was adopted which provided for granted legislative powers. The the election of the President by the Constituent Seimas was elected on Seimas. Before the elections, the April 14-15, 1920, pursuant to the Speaker of the Seimas, Aleksan- Law on Elections passed in 1919. dras Stulginskis, carried out the duties of President. Later, in 1922 he was elected President and re- elected in 1923.

16. 17. 18.

The Provisional Constitution of 4 April 1919 established for the first time the constitutional status of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. It provided for a presidential republic headed by the Head of State with vast powers. Based on this model, the Seimas would pass dra legislation to become laws only aer the President’s special approval.

The Provisional Constitution of 12 June 1920 reduced the role of the President and it was even decided not to elect the President and his duties were carried out by the Speaker of the Constituent Seimas.

The Constitution of 8 August 1922 established a parliamentary system It provided the President with a minor role: the President was elected by the Seimas and he was also politically dependant on the Seimas. The duties of the President were mostly 15. representative. The term of the President and the Seimas was set at three years. On February 16, 1918, the convened in Didžioji Street 30 (now Pilies Street 26) in the historical capital of and unanimously proclaimed the The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania promulgated on May 15, 1928, in- restoration of an independent Lithuanian State, with Vilnius as capital. It was decid- creased considerably the role of the presidential institution, which emerged as the ed to discontinue all political ties which had existed with other nations and to govern basic state institution. It established a new procedure of presidential elections: the the independent state of Lithuania on the basis of democratic principles. The Declara- President was to be elected by a college of representatives of the nation. The Presi- tion of Independence was signed by twenty prominent public figures, including Dr. dent was no longer politically accountable to the Seimas and his term in office was Jonas Basanavičius, , , and others. raised to seven years. The President was granted vast powers in foreign policy mat- ters. He was made the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. 10. In 1926 was On February 14, 1993, Algirdas On February 26, 1998, Valdas elected President of the Re- Mykolas Brazauskas was elected Adamkus won elections and be- public of Lithuania. On De- the first President of re-independ- came President of the Republic of cember 17, 1926, Grinius was ent Lithuania by universal vote. In Lithuania. removed by a coup d’état. On January of 1994, President Algir- December 19 Antanas Sme- das Brazauskas in a leer to NATO In 2003, was tona was elected President for Secretary General Manfred Wörn- elected President. On April 6, 2004, the second time. er officially requested Lithuanian Paksas was removed by the Seimas membership in NATO. from presidential office. Speaker of the Seimas Artūras Paulauskas became acting President.

In 2004 Valdas Adamkus was re- elected President of the Republic of Lithuania for a second term.

19. 20.

A new constitution was introduced on May 12, 1938, further increasing presidential authority. The President had the right to dissolve the Seimas or Government and to legislate laws in the absence of the Seimas or between sessions. The President was granted absolute immunity. During his term in office, he was not accountable, in either political or legal terms, to the Seimas, the Government or the Nation.

A comparison of the three Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania in the pe- riod between the two world wars shows an evident tendency towards a stronger presidential institution.

Since the restoration of Lithuanian independence on March 11, 1990, the rela- tionship between political institutions was debated in great detail. Presidential authority was among the most complicated issues that the authors of the new 21. constitution had to deal with. On May 23, 1992, a referendum was held to ex- pand presidential powers, but it had no legal effects. On October 25, 1992, the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania was adopted which restored the Office of the President. The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, proclaimed on October 25, 1992, can be described as a compromise between the advocates of a presidential re- public and the supporters of a parliamentary republic. A parliamentary republic with some features of a presidential republic was established. It differs from the earlier constitutions in one major point: the President is elected by universal and direct vote. 11. PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHY Valdas Adamkus was born into a family of civil servants in ica. In 1951, he married Alma Nutautaitė whom he had met at the on , 1926. He spent his childhood in Kaunas, where he Lithuanian Gymnasium in . studied at the Elementary School and the Aušra In the , Valdas Adamkus studied at the University of Gymnasium. His early years were disrupted by the Soviet occupa- . He graduated on January 28, 1961, with a degree in civil tion and World War II that sparked a. rebellious spirit and soon engineering. His professional career was successful. In early 70’ he joined the resistance movement for Lithuanian independence. Valdas Adamkus was invited to work for the United States Envi- With the approach of the Soviet army to Vilnius, Valdas Adamkus ronment Protection Agency (EPA). In 1981, he was appointed re- and his parents escaped to Germany in July of 1944. gional administrator at EPA Region 5 (Midwest). He graduated the Lithuanian Gymnasium established in Eichstä, Valdas Adamkus was always active in public and political life: he Bavaria, aer WWII and later continued his studies at the Faculty was concerned about Lithuania and its liberation, and also about of Nature and Biology of the University of Munich. Wherever he the preservation of the Lithuanian national identity among the went, Valdas Adamkus was followed by the vision of Lithuania Lithuanian American community. Valdas Adamkus was member which gave him strength and preserved the hope of survival. of the Board of the Lithuanian American Community, vice-chair- In 1949, Valdas Adamkus emigrated to the United States of Amer- man of its Central Board, member of the American Lithuanian

Valdas Adamkus President

22. 23. 12. LEISURE AND INTERESTS

CREATIVITY RESPECT 24. 25. TOLERANCE 26.

Council, president of the Santara-Šviesa Federation (Lithuanian American lib- On June 27, 2004, Valdas Adamkus was re-elected President for another five year eral intellectual organization famous for its slogan Face to Lithuania), founder term. of the Lithuanian American academic sports club Lituanica, and the chairman of President Adamkus continues to pursue his vision of bringing hope of a beer the Organizing Commiee of the World Lithuanian Games held in 1983. life and confidence in the State of Lithuania to every single Lithuanian citizen. Valdas Adamkus was an active participant and organizer of sports events. In 1947, President Adamkus has been honored with the highest decorations of many he formed a unified leadership of Lithuanian sports that continues to unite Lithua- countries; he holds honorary doctorates at universities in Lithuania and other nian athletes in the United States and Canada. He won two gold and two silver countries; and he was designated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Con- medals in track-and-field at the Olympic Games of the Enslaved Nations in 1948. struction of Knowledge Societies. Such activities show Valdas Adamkus as a very dynamic person with excep- tional organizational capacity, who made a tremendous effort to preserve and Leisure and Interests foster the Lithuanian national identity. Since 1972, Valdas Adamkus had been visiting Lithuania every year as the head President Valdas Adamkus lives, together with his family, in a state-owned of US environmental delegations. He assisted his fellow by encour- house provided for residential and hospitality purposes by the Law on the Of- aging and supporting the construction of water treatment facilities, helping en- fice of President. vironmental institutions with academic literature, equipment, and soware, and Valdas Adamkus always finds time for reading the press. He enjoys books and also organizing study visits for members of the Lithuanian academic community music, recorded and live, particularly classical music. to the United States. The President’s passion for sports continues to this day: he likes watching basket- Aer the restoration of Lithuanian independence, Valdas Adamkus remained in ball, football, tennis and other games on television. Valdas Adamkus swims, jogs the whirlpool of political events. In 1993, Adamkus headed the election campaign and plays tennis. He spends a lot of time outdoors and he loves cycling. of presidential candidate ; in the 1996 parliamentary election cam- The President is actively involved in various projects, activities and events or- paign, he consolidated moderate center political forces in Lithuania. ganized by the Alma Adamkienė Charity and Support Fund, a foundation estab- In 1998, Valdas Adamkus was elected President of the Republic of Lithuania. He lished by Mrs. Adamkienė to help children. Valdas Adamkus oen meets public assumed office on February 26, 1998. figures, intellectuals, and members of various religious denominations. 13. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE: FACTS

When the President is elected by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, the ceremony of handing over the power takes place in front of the Presidential Palace. Here, the President is given the State Stamp and the Presi- dent’s flag is raised. The Presidential Palace is located in the Old Town of Vilnius, in Simono Daukanto Square. It is one of the biggest and most impressive architectural ensembles in the capital. Wrien sources first mention this site in 1387 when Grand Duke Jogaila donated the land on the lower terrace of the Neris to the Bishop of Vilnius. The palace was most probably built here soon aerwards. The building was repeatedly destroyed by fire and rebuilt; however, it remained in the same place and became a unique symbol of the history of the Lithuanian State and a witness of many important events. The palace

27. 28. 14. CONCORD NATIONAL IDENTITY 29. 30. SOLIDARITY 31.

was resided by Vilnius bishops and governors general, also visited by kings and The flag of the President of the Republic is flown over the residence of the Presi- tsars. Among its visitors was the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It was dent of the Republic when the President is in Vilnius. It is also flown on ships or the center of political life where decisions on the fate of the nation and people other vehicles if they are boarded or traveled by the President of the Republic. were taken. In 1997, the building became the Palace of the President of the Republic of Lithua- The flag of the President of the Republic of Lithuania and its image must always nia visited by foreign presidents, high ranking officials and public figures. correspond to the standard colors of the President’s flag, which are approved by On Mindaugas Coronation Day – the Lithuanian State Day – the courtyard and the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the recommendation of the Heraldry the park of the Presidential Palace host an official reception by the President of Commission of Lithuania. the Republic of Lithuania. The President of the Republic uses a round stamp and document forms inscribed The President of the Republic has a flag which is the symbol of the Head of State. with the Coat of Arms of Lithuania. The stamp contains the inscription “The The flag is of purple cloth, on both sides of which the Coat of Arms of Lithuania President of the Republic of Lithuania.” is in the center, held by a griffin on the right and a unicorn on the le. These are the symbols of the State’s longevity, wellbeing and wealth.

15. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE: HISTORY

33.

1795 The Palace became the official headquarters of the Russian Governor General. Photo: Drawing room, 32. now the Blue Hall, late 19th century.

1387 The history of the Palace dates back to the sole 1582 Vilnius Bishop Jurgis Radvila donated brick document wrien over 600 years ago - the edict by buildings (now on Universiteto Street) to the Dioc- Grand Duke Jogaila of 17 February 1387, whereby he esan Catholic Seminary. Today, this is the entrance to granted to the Vilnius Diocese a garden on the site of the Administration of the Office of the President. the present Palace. 1655 Part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, includ- 1530 According to some historical wrien sources, ing Vilnius, was occupied by . Wooden build- aer the fire ravaged the city, the bishops moved to a ings on the site of the present park and the Palace palace of the Goštautas family on the site where the were devastated by fire. In the fires of 1737 and 1748, Presidential Palace stands today. According to con- the Bishop’s archives, including all documents related temporaries, the Palace of Bishops had the most im- to the Bishop’s holdings in Vilnius, were destroyed. pressive buildings, second only to the Royal Castle. 34. The Palace was first shown on the drawing included 1774 Bishop Ignotas Masalskis relocated the Catho- into the Atlas of the World Cities published by George lic Seminary to start the reconstruction of the Palace, The Palace was rebuilt in the style of Neoclas- Braun in 1581. which was headed by architect Laurynas Gucevičius, 1824 sicism (Empire) according to the design by a famous the best known representative of Vilnius Classicism Court architect Stasov. Headed by who refurbished Vilnius Cathedral and designed, Vilnius architects Podčašinskis and Gregotovičius, Town Hall and Verkiai Palace. the reconstruction work was completed in 1832.

16. 35.

1837 Vilnius Master Plan was developed to be used as the basis for designing and building what today is known as Simono Daukanto Square (then called 37. 38. Dvorcovaja, Napoleon, Kutuzov square). Its center- piece was a fountain. 1920 During the brief period when Lithuania had 1995. The idea of turning the building into a presi- recovered Vilnius, the Palace housed the Ministry dential palace was supported by Algirdas Braza- of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and the news agency uskas. In 1995, a work plan was coordinated and ELTA. approved (chief architect of the project Saulius Šimelionis). The restorers tried to preserve and high- light the integral Classicist architecture and adapt it 1944 The Palace was converted into a culture center to new contemporary functions. Historical interior for soviet military officers and youth dance events was restored in the main halls. Archeological sur- were held in the present White Hall. veys were carried out on the entire territory of the Palace and the park, covering 1500 square meters. The oldest archeological findings discovered in the 1976 The Palace was given to the Artists Union. Af- courtyard of the Palace date back to the Bronze Age 36. ter the Monument Conservation and Restoration and the early Iron Age. Institute completed archeological research, the Pal- 1898 A monument to Governor General Mikhail ace was restored (chief architect for the restoration Muravyov to mark his brutal suppression of the 1863 project R. Kazlauskas). 1997 On May 16, the official opening of the Palace uprising was erected in the present Simono Daukanto of the President of the Republic of Lithuania was Square. Despite resentment of the Lithuanian people, held in Daukanto Square. the monument stood there for 17 years. In 1915, dur- ing the First World War, the retreating Russian army took the monument with them.

17. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

The Executive Office of the President is the main room in the Palace. This is the office of the President where he works, receives small delegations; it is also used for TV and other broadcasts of the President’s addresses and holiday greetings to the Nation. The walls are decorated with oak wood. Built-in closets and furniture sets are also made of oak. Behind the desk of the President are the national flag, the flag of the President and the Coat of Arms of Lithuania. The desk faces the fire- place installed in the wall with antiqui- ties featured on its mantelpiece: a clock (guilt bronze, marble, 19th cent) and a pair of ancient Greek crater-shaped vas- es (guilt bronze, 19th cent). The paint- ing of Vytautas the Great (copy, oil on canvas, unknown artist 17th cent) is dis- played above the fireplace. 40. The office is decorated with the por- trait of Dr. Jonas Basanavičius (painted by Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, 1911). The portrait was earlier used to deco- rate the office of President Antanas Smetona in the Presidential Palace in the city of Kaunas.

18. 39. 41. 42. 43.

19. CEREMONIAL STAIRCASE. THE NEGOTIATIONS HALL

44. 45.

Ceremonial Staircase The Negotiations Hall This red-carpeted staircase decorated with gilt handrails and window railings The Negotiations Hall is used for meetings and negotiations of official delega- leads from the courtyard to the main halls, laid out in enfilade, on the second tions. Here, the most important issues of bilateral relations are discussed. floor of the Palace. The most prominent Lithuanian guests, heads of state and The authentic caisson ceiling from the Bishops’ Palace period is one of the most other honorable persons walk up the staircase to enter the Palace. beautiful and ornate fragments of the present Palace architecture. The walls are decorated with maps of Old Vilnius and drawings of architectural monuments. These works of art in water color and ink were created by Juozapas Kamarauskas between 1894 and 1923.

20. THE BLUE HALL

46. 47.

The Blue Hall Named aer the color of its walls, this hall is used for tête-à-tête or confidential meetings of the President. Here, the President receives heads of state, delegations and other guests. It has two surviving authentic Swedish-style fireplaces from the early 19th century. It features a copy of a furniture set which belonged to Jurgis Baltrušaitis, a famous Lithuanian poet and diplomat, and used to decorate the Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow during the inter-war period. The walls are decorated with paintings from the Mykolas Žilinskas collection kept at the National Museum of M. K Čiurlionis.

21. THE WHITE HALL

49. 51.

48. 50. 52. 53.

22. The main and largest hall in the Palace, used for the presentation of leers of credence to Lithuanian ambassadors and for receiving credentials from foreign ambas- sadors. Also, it is used for award and honoring ceremonies, meet- ings with the President, receptions of large delegations and guests, bilateral and multilateral meet- 55. ings, presidents’ meetings and state banquets. In this hall, heads of state exchange gis and decora- tions. The Liberty Statue (1922) in the central niche is a gypsum model of the original sculpture by Juo- zas Zikaras displayed at the War Museum of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas. 54. 56. White and gilted furniture is made aer the furniture of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace near Saint Petersburg.

57. 23. THE MEETING HALL. THE CONSULTATIONS HALL

58. 59. 60.

The Meeting Hall The Consultations Hall In this room, meetings of the State Defense Council, headed by the President, are held; the President receives This hall is used for meetings with non-gov- members of the Seimas and Government, and also representatives of a variety of non-governmental organizations. ernmental groups, young people, and politi- The Clemency Commission and other commissions hold their meetings in this hall. cal analysts, and also for deliberations of state One of the walls is decorated with a tapestry Composition of the Coats of Arms depicting the coat of arms of the issues with officials, members of parties and President and major Lithuanian cities against the background of oak leaves (artists Anicetas, Žilvinas and Jūratė government. It becomes a coordination center Jonutis, 1998). The room is also decorated with portraits of the Lithuanian Presidents: Antanas Smetona (artist during the most important events (e.g. Vilnius Jonas Janulis, 1926), Kazys Grinius (artist Kazys Buivydas), Aleksandras Stulginskis (artist Petras Kalpokas, 1925), Conference 2006). (artist Saulius Čižikas, 1998), and Valdas Adamkus (artist Saulius Čižikas, 2004). 24. THE COLUMN HALL. THE GREEN HALL

61. 62. 63.

The Column Hall The Green Hall This hall is used for different symposia, forums and conferences. It hosts press This hall is used for the President’s meetings with advisers and for official lunch- conferences of the President and other distinguished guests as well as meetings eons and dinners. Here, the President also receives members of non-governmen- with members of non-governmental groups. tal organizations. The room features antique mirrors (Empire, 19th cent); a glass vase made by the Imperial Glass Factory (19th cent); a clock featuring Apollo (gilt bronze, 19th cent); and a pair of candelabra featuring figures of goddesses (guilt bronze, 19th cent).

25. THE HALL OF MAPS. THE HALL OF AMBASSADORS

64. 65.

The Hall of Maps The Hall of Ambassadors This hall is accessed from the Ceremonial The room is used as a lounge by delegations. They stay here during breaks at official events. It is a welcoming hall Staircase. for guests who come for state banquets hosted by the President and the First Lady in the White Hall. It is used for various meetings and interviews The hall features a furniture set made of Karelian birch veneer, using technologies of the old masters. The walls for the media. are decorated with lithographs from The Vilnius Album compiled by Jonas Kazimieras Vilčinskis: Grand Courtyard This room features a neoclassical furniture set of ; Suburb of Šnipiškės; Dining Hall in Verkiai Palace; Tombstone of Zygmant I and Sigismund August in (20th cent, mahogany veneer), with facsimiles Krakow Cathedral. The room is also decorated with the lithograph Construction of the Gediminas Castle depicting the of the maps of the Lithuanian State from the legend about the founding of the capital city of Lithuania (Michael Elviro Andriolli, 1938-1893). cartography collection of the Science Library of Vilnius University on the walls. 26. THE WAITING ROOM 37. The White Hall, 1944 PHOTOGRAPHS 38. Palace, 1976 p. 4 p. 18 1. Inauguration Day at the Presidential Palace, 12 July 2004 39. President Adamkus in his executive office, 16 May 2006 2. Beginning of the autumn session at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, 40. President Adamkus and poet Justinas Marcinkevičius, 28 December 2004 10 September 2005 p. 19 p. 5 41. Executive Office of the President 3. At Rotušės Square, 17 October 2006 42. German President Horst Kőhler signs the guest book, 22 November 2004 4. Presidential Palace: President’s Flag and Coat of Arms 43. Executive Office of the President p. 6 p. 20 5. Graduation ceremony at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of 44. Ceremonial Staircase Lithuania, 1 July 2005 45. Meeting of delegations headed by President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus 6. US President George Bush visits Lithuania, 22 November 2002 and President of Lech Kaczyński, 14 March 2006 p. 7 p. 21 7. Ceremony of signing of the Constitution for in , 29 October 2004 46. President Adamkus, Mrs. Adamkienė, and members of the Mentor 8. Meeting with President of China Hu Jintao during official visit to China, Foundation, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Prince Turki bin Talal Bin 26 October 2006 Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, attend a charity auction, 4 October 2005 9. Informal meeting of the European Council. President Adamkus with French 47. US Vice President Richard Cheney attends 2006: President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, 27 October 2005 Common Vision for Common Neighborhood, 3 May 2006 p. 8 p. 22. 10. President Adamkus and Prime Minister of Denmark Anders Rasmussen, 48. The Liberty Statue in the White Hall 2 May 2005 49. Meeting with participants of informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, 11. President awards the Life Saving Cross to Evelina Urniežiūtė, 12 February 2006 21 April 2005 66. 12. President Adamkus, together with Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski 50. President accepts letters of credence from Mr. Hannes Heimisson, and EU High Representative for the Common and Security Policy Javier Ambassador of Island, the first state to recognize Lithuania’s independence, Solana, took part in resolving the Ukrainian crisis. President Adamkus with 24 March 2006 President of Ukraine , 1 December 2004 51. State decoration awarded by the President – Grand Cross of the Order of p. 9 Vytautas the Great 13. The President and Mrs. Adamkienė visit Pope John Paul II, 1998 52. Colonel rank is given to Gintautas Zinkevičius, Commander of the Provincial 14. Visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Lithuania, Reconstruction Team of Motorized Infantry Brigade Geležinis Vilkas, 17 October 2006 23 November 2004 p. 10 53. President presents state award to Vladė Miliūtė on the occasion of 15. The Council of Lithuania meets in the historic capital of Vilnius, 16 February 1918 Commemorating Lithuanian Guerillas and Army and Public Unity Day, 16. First President of Lithuania Antanas Smetona 21 May 2006 17. President of Lithuania Aleksandras Stulginskis p. 23 18. President of Lithuania Kazys Grinius 54. The White Hall p. 11 55. Award ceremony with Olympic medal winners Virgilijus Alenka and Austra 19. President of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas Skujytė, 8 August 2005 20. President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus 56. President awards Life Saving Cross to Valerija Kežunaitė, 6 July 2006 21. Signing of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, 25 October 1992 57. The White Hall 67. p. 12 p. 24 22. At residential house, 1 July 2004 58. Meeting with President of , 3 May 2006 23. President Adamkus and Mrs. Adamkienė at the President’s executive office, 59. Meeting leaders of religious communities of Lithuania, 20 February 2006 The Waiting Room 20 March 2006 60. President awards participants of the Lithuanian students’ academic In this room, guests wait before they meet p. 13 competition in political sciences, 3 May 2005 24. Visit to Skuodas, 18 October 2005 p. 25 the President. 25. Meeting with Mstislav Rostropovich, 1 March 2005 61. Meeting representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 26. Meeting local community in Varėna, 26 July 2005 Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad, and non- It features a furniture set in Russian Em- p. 14 governmental organizations, 15 June 2005 pire, a copy 19th century furniture which 27. Presidential Palace: Facade 62. President receives young athletes from A.S.K Lithuanica, 30 June 2005 28. Lithuanian servicemen in S. Daukanto Square, 19 August 2004 63. President receives representatives of Piliečių Santalka (non-formal civil stood here. The room is decorated with p. 15 movement), 30 August 2006 29. Guard of Honor, 21 May 2006 p. 26 The Seascape (oil on canvas, late 19th - early 30. The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian flag raising ceremony on 64. President Adamkus and media representatives, 13 November 2006 20th cent) and facsimiles of the lithographs Independence Day, 16 February 2006 65. President Adamkus with King Albert II and Queen Paola of , 31. Ceremony of presentation of the flag on Inauguration Day, 12 July 2004 20 March 2006 from The Vilnius Album compiled by Jonas p. 16 p. 27. 32. Palace, Vilnius Master Plan, 1581 66. President Adamkus and Dalia Grybauskaitė, European Commissioner for Kazimieras Vilčinskis. 33. Former drawing room, now the Blue Hall, late 19th century Financial Programming and Budget, 24 May 2006 34. Palace, 1824 67. President Adamkus and Major General Valdas Tutkus, Commander of the 35. S. Daukanto Square and fountain, 1837 , 5 April 2006 36. S. Daukanto Square, 1989 27. AUTHORS:

Press Service of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Andrius Navickas, Raminta Adomėnaitė-Antanaitienė For booking a free tour of the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Photos by Džoja Gunda Barysaitė and Mindaugas Armonavičius presidential palace, please register UAB Terra media Special acknowledgements to the Lithuanian Museum of Fine Arts and the Lithuanian National Museum by phone (+370 5) 266 4011.