with Italy
with Italy
| On 13 July 1922, Italy recognized Lithuania de jure. |
| On 30 August 1991, diplomatic relations were re-established. |
| 1993-1994, Stasys Lozoraitis served as the first Lithuanian Ambassador to Italy after the re-establishment of independence. |
| From 1991 to 1996, Franco Tempesta served as the first Italian Ambassador to Lithuania. |
One may talk about diplomatic relations between Italy and Lithuania in the true sense of the word from the end of the First World War. Lithuania declared independence in 1918: Italy recognized the newly established state on 13 July 1922 and was one of the first countries to establish its diplomatic premises in Lithuania.
During the interwar years the governments of the two countries have signed several agreements: the Italian diplomatic service operated in Kaunas and the Lithuanian diplomatic service in Rome. The latter was established by Petras Klimas, followed by other famous diplomats, such as Vytautas Čarneckis and Stasys Lozoraitis.
The Italian government has never recognized the Soviet occupation as legitimate and Rome during the entire period of occupation has remained the shelter for the political and cultural activists. On 26 August 1991 Italy recognized the renewed independence of the Republic of Lithuania and on 30 August 1991 the diplomatic relations between the two countries were successfully restored.
