"Ninety years ago, Lithuania crossed a major threshold on the path of history. On February 16, 1918, the descendants of a partitioned nation gathered in the Council of Lithuania and proclaimed to the world that the Lithuanian people, having survived long years of oppression and occupation, were committing themselves to their inherent right to rebuild the State of Lithuania. Even today, the Declaration of February 16 – born of our native language, history, remembrance and cultural heritage – remains a unique historical event inspiring our hearts to build up Lithuania."