On 29 September 2023, H.E. Mrs. Sirilak Niyom, Ambassador of Thailand to Lithuania with residence in Copenhagen, and Mr. Romas Lileikis, President of the Republic of Užupis, jointly hosted the Unveiling of the Tablet of the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis in Thai language in Vilnius, Lithuania, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Thailand-Lithuania Diplomatic Relations. This is the 43rd language to be translated and installed on the Constitutional Wall of the Republic of Užupis.

 

Užupis District is classified as a special arts and culture community where a number of artists reside. Located in the old town of Vilnius, Užupis is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. It assumes imaginative form of city and government under the name Republic of Užupis. While having its own president, prime minister, cabinet, and constitution, these icons do not have any official de jure authority in Lithuania. The first version of the Užupis Constitution was published in the Lithuanian language on 1 April 1997. It contains 41 articles, most of which reflect the artist’s philosophy of living and add a touch of humor. It has since been translated into 43 different languages, including Thai, inscribed on a metal plate installed on the Constitutional Wall as a tourist attraction. Thai tourists visiting Vilnius can view and read the Užupis Constitution in Thai language from now on.

 

On such occasion, the Royal Thai Embassy decorated the place around the Constitutional Wall to create a Thai atmosphere with Thai flags along the road and roll-ups to promote Thai tourism as well as organizing Thai cultural shows. A drum dance procession by young Thai artists from Moradokmai Theatre Community led by Ajarn Janaprakul Chandruang or “Kru Chang”, a Thai national artist, and a group of Muay Thai boxers from the Lithuanian Muay Thai Federation were the first to begin before the ceremony took place. The ceremony then began with the playing of the Užupis and the Thai national anthems, speeches by H.E. the Ambassador and the President of Užupis, reading of the Užupis Constitution in Thai by the Ambassador and the youths from Moradokmai Theatre Community, Thai traditional dance by the Thai community in Lithuania, cultural performance in a Khon mask and the playing of Thai and international music applied to Thai musical instruments by Moradokmai Theatre Community which received much attention and admiration of the guests who attended the event. Lithuanian dignitaries attended, such as Mr. Egidijus Meilūnas, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Mr. Vilius Semeška, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament and Head of the Group for Inter-parliamentary Relations with ASEAN, Mr. Julius Pranevičius, Director for Indo-Pacific, and Mr. Rolandas Valiūnas, Honorary Consul in Vilnius, who played an important role in initiating this activity, as well as the diplomatic corps in Vilnius, the Thai community in Lithuania, local people and tourists. In this occasion, Užupis has also appointed “Kru Chang” to be an honorary citizen of Užupis and a Thai goodwill ambassador to Užupis as well.

 

In the evening after the unveiling ceremony, the Royal Thai Embassy also hosted a reception for those who attended the ceremony by presenting Thai food, Thai dance and Thai music by Moradokmai Theatre Community. Thai souvenirs; thai elephant key chains specially made on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of Thailand-Lithuania Diplomatic Relations were distributed to the guests. At the reception, H.E. the Ambassador delivered a speech on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of Thailand-Lithuania Diplomatic Relations which began in 1993. Since then, the relationship has expanded to cover all levels and dimensions including politics, economics, trade, investment, tourism and still continues to expand. Mr. Egidijus Meilūnas, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, also delivered a speech congratulating the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations. He stressed that this year Lithuania announced its strategy for the Indo-Pacific which ASEAN member countries including Thailand play an important role. Lithuania is committed to promoting cooperation with Thailand in the areas of economy, trade, investment, science, technology, people-to-people relations, culture and education in order to bring even more closer relations between the two countries.

 

Local Lithuanian media also reported on the Unveiling of the Tablet of the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis in Thai language