Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

04/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2026 05:59

French national award presented to Ambassador Aleksiejūnas for outstanding contribution to the development of bilateral relations

On April 28 in Brussels, the French National Order of Merit - the insignia of Grand Officer - was presented to Lithuania's Permanent Representative to the European Union (EU), Ambassador Nerijus Aleksiejūnas. The award was bestowed by France's Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Philippe Léglise-Costa.
"I accept this award as a great honor, but I do not consider it a personal one. It is the result of joint work and shared ambition," Ambassador N. Aleksiejūnas said during the ceremony. "During our work in Paris, we sought to strengthen Lithuanian-French relations through concrete actions. This led to the idea of the Lithuanian Gardens in Paris, which has become a long-term, visible symbol of our ties. This ambition was further reinforced by the first-ever Lithuanian Season in France, which left a lasting cultural imprint."
The French recognition was granted to N. Aleksiejūnas for his significant contribution to the development of Lithuanian-French bilateral relations, the establishment of the Lithuanian Gardens in Paris, and the implementation of the first Lithuanian Season in France. During the Season, Lithuanian culture, science, politics, economy, and gastronomy were presented at various events in Paris and 80 other cities across the country, with nearly 300 performances by Lithuanian artists and creators.
Established in 1963, the French National Order of Merit is the second-highest state decoration, awarded to both French and foreign citizens for merit to the French nation.
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