On November 18 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas will attend celebration of the 98th anniversary of independence of Latvia in Riga: ecumenical mass at the Riga Cathedral, ceremony of laying flowers at the monument for Freedom, a parade, and state awards ceremony.
Chief of Defence will be in attendance at official invitation of the President and the Chancellor of the Republic of Latvia. The invitation says that President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis will present the highest state award of Latvia, the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs, to Lieutenant General J. V. Žukas for significant contributions to the security and defence of Latvia.
Latvia celebrates Independence Day on November 18: on this day in 1918 the People's Council of Latvia declared independence of the Republic of Latvia.
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence Captain Mindaugas Neimontas
00370 5 278 5091, 0370 682 25359, e-mail: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
