Lithuania is to be visited by the Federal President of the Republic of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer who arrives in Lithuania on 11 March for a two-day state visit. The Austrian leader will be accompanied by a delegation of state officials and business, culture and media representatives.

The first day of the visit, March 12, will see the official welcoming ceremony for the President of Austria, to be followed by a meeting between the twe Presidents to discuss the opportunities for developing bilateral relations in trade, energy, culture and other fields, and the cooperation between Vilnius and Linz as the two European Capitals of Culture. Other issues to be touched upon in the meeting will include the international financial and economic situation, national and European Union’s anti-crisis plans, European Neighbourhood Policy, and energy security issues.

The bilateral meeting between the delegations headed by the Presidents of Lithuania and Austria will be followed by a signature ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Federal Republic of Austria on Mutual Representation by Diplomatic and Consular Missions in the Visa Application Procedures.

After the official signature ceremony, President Adamkus will decorate Austria’s President Fischer with the Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Collar, for his personal initiative in developing Lithuania-Austrian intergovernmental relations and enhancing political, cultural and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.

President Heinz Fischer of Austria will decorate President Adamkus with the Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.

Before going to the Antakalnis Cemetery to honour the memory and lay a wreath at the memorial to those killed in the fight for Lithuania’s independence, the Federal President Heinz Fischer will give, together with President Adamkus, a press conference.

Later in the day, the Austrian leader will have a meeting with Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius in Trakai.

After lunch, President Adamkus and President Fischer will participate in the official opening ceremony of the international fine art exhibition ‘Yearning for Nature. European Landscapes’ arranged as part of the national programme ‘Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009’, in the Museum of Applied Arts.

Thursday evening, a state dinner will be hosted in the Presidential Palace in the honour of the Austrian President Fischer.

Friday, March 13, Lithuania’s and Austria’s Presidents will participate and make speeches in the opening session of the Lithuanian-Austrian Business Forum.

After the Forum, President Fischer will have a meeting with Mr. Arūnas Valinskas, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

At noon, Austria’s leader will go to Kaunas, where a meeting with Mayor A. Kupčinskas is scheduled in the Town Hall.

Later the same day, Austria’s President will visit the National M. K. Čiurlionis Museum in Kaunas and the Monastery of Pažaislis.

Back in Vilnius, Austria’s President Fischer will host a return hospitality reception to be attended by the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.

Austria’s President goes back to Vienna in the evening the same day.