Lietuvos Respublikos diplomatinės tarnybos statusas

Abstract

The rudiment of diplomacy in Lithuania started in XIII century. Though only in XVIII century Lithuania started to establish constant diplomatic legations in foreign countries, till then Lithuania supported diplomatic activities by sending and accepting charges d’affaires. The foundation to LDS was in 1918 Lithuanian State Council XI session initiated decision to establish nine departments, the department of Foreign affairs among them also. LDS has continually been operating and in 1940, after Lithuania was occupied and annexed by Soviets, the diplomats continued their diplomatic activities under the conditions of exodus. According to the catalogue of the department of Foreign affairs there were fifteen functioning legations in 1939, after Lithuania was occupied only five officially recognizes legations left. Reconstitution of the Lithuanian state became the priority of the diplomatic service remaining in the West. Difficult conditions during the World War II and unstable status of the Lithuanian diplomats did not allow them to get involved into efficient political action. Actions of the LDS in the postwar period became consistent because of the decrease of LDS members and shortage of funds. During the period of annexation, Lithuanian diplomatic service remained the only institution accepted abroad and the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania was enacted on the basis of the de jure continuity of the state in 1990. Since de jure recognition had already been granted to Lithuania during the inter-war period and subsequently maintained by the international community, recognition only had to be extended to the Government of Lithuania. Most of the states recognised the legality of the new government in August - September of 1991. The fact that the restoration of the independence of Lithuania was universally recognised meant the restoration of legal capacity and the regression to international community. The law on the diplomatic service, establishing the legal foundations of the Lithuanian diplomatic service, with other Republic of Lithuania laws and international agreements including among them the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations determined the formation and functioning of diplomatic service, legal situation of diplomats and ensured stability of the Lithuanian diplomatic service.