Presenting the medal, awarded for outstanding contribution to international cooperation and cooperation linking the Republic of Poland with other countries and nations, Marek Kuchciński said:

Today, on the 450th anniversary of the establishment of the Union of Lublin, in the Seimas of the Republic of Poland, we are solemnly decorating the President of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Viktoras Pranckietis, a prominent figure in Lithuanian political life, with the Grand Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, conferred by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

President Viktoras Pranckietis has become a promoter of revival of cooperation between our parliaments and states. He has made this task one of the most important for his office.

We consider it symbolic that the act of awarding the medal The awarding of the medal takes place during the celebrations of the anniversary of the Lublin Union and that the impulse for to return to the path of close Polish-Lithuanian cooperation The ceremonial celebrations of the 630th anniversary of the Baptism of Lithuania were the impulse for the return to the path of close Polish-Lithuanian cooperation. This in turn This, in turn, opened the way for numerous visits and meetings characterised by references The Polish-Lithuanian relations have been based on the solemn celebration of the 630th anniversary of the Baptism of Lithuania. The most current political problems.

We also celebrated together the 100th anniversary of the memorable year 1918, the year of regaining Polish statehood, and the year of the Polish Constitution. anniversary of the memorable year 1918, the year of regaining statehood by Poland and Lithuania.

Thanks to your commitment, Mr. President, the activity of the Polish-Lithuanian Parliamentary Thanks to the commitment of the President, the activity of the Polish-Lithuanian Parliamentary Assembly, a broad parliamentary platform, was resumed, which since 1997 has been bringing us closer together not only as Deputies and Senators to the Seimas deputies, but also as Poles and Lithuanians.

It was renewed in February 2019
and marks a real "good change" in Polish-Lithuanian relations.

This form of cooperation is initiated by our parliament with the closest It is difficult to find closer relations over the period of almost 700 years than than between Poles and Lithuanians.

Because we should look at our past through the perspective The perspective set by Piotr Skarga, St. Casimir Jagiellonczyk, St. Andrew Bobola, the battles of Grunwald and Kluszyn, Hetman Jan Chodkiewicz, the November and January November and January uprisings, Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki, Ignacy Kraszewski, Joachim Lelewel, Czesław Miłosz, Tomasz Venclova, or the presidents Lech Kaczyński and Valdas Adamkus, who together defended Georgia in 2008 against the invading Russia.

The 25th anniversary of the Polish-Lithuanian Treaty - this anniversary was a good return to the sources of our relations. At the same time, it was the main topic of the February session of the resumed Parliamentary Assembly.

Equally important is the fact that several Polish This will mean that our compatriots will not be condemned only to news from Russian stations.

It is an object of our joy that the present Polish-Lithuanian relations It is a subject of our joy that the present Lithuanian-Polish relations can develop and serve both the Poles and the Lithuanians, and that We have achieved the greatest successes when we acted together. Therefore I am confident that we will be able to solve all problems in the Lithuanian-Polish relations, whatever Lithuania.

The Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland expresses our appreciation and gratitude for your deep identification with the great the great work of Polish-Lithuanian friendship and brotherhood.

Labai ačiu, Mr President!

The President of the Seimas, Viktoras Pranckietis, paid attention to The friendship between Poland and Lithuania - the relations which have become so good thanks to Lithuania - relations which have become so good thanks to the commitment, intensive work and dialogue of both sides. He reminded that The President of Lithuania chose Poland as the destination of his first foreign visit. According to President, we are connected by common interests, such as infrastructure, energy, education, but also history and prominent people such as people of culture, such as Mickiewicz or Matejko, whose painting "Union of Lublin will arrive in Vilnius on July 6.

- Today we speak with one voice, and a common voice is momentous, it brings more peace of mind for citizens," Pranckietis said.