Vilnius surprises first visa-free visitors from Georgia
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A large street banner has been installed near the Vilnius Airport to warmly greet first guests from Georgia who travel to Lithuania visa-free.
The bilingual banner says in English and Georgian: "Closer than ever.”
The photographs of the banner were shared on Facebook by Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius.
He said the banner was meant to surprise the first Georgian visa-free guests arriving from Kutaisi International Airport in Vilnius.
"Yesterday, Georgia-EU visa-free travel came into force and now Georgians can move freely within the European Union countries. We have prepared a surprise from the first visa-free guests,” he said.
The banner was not the only surprise the first visa-free travellers enjoyed in Vilnius. They were also greeted by the Mayor himself, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as by local journalists and the Georgian Ambassador in Lithuania. A special event organised at the airport saw welcoming speeches by the officials and Georgia-Lithuania friendship cupcakes.
Firs Georgian visa-free travelers were warmly greeted at Vilnius airport. Photo: GPB.
The regulation which lifted the visa requirements for Georgian citizens came into effect yesterday. Based on the new regulations, Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to the Schengen Zone for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working.
The new visa-free countries include 22 EU states, four non-EU countries and four EU membership candidate states.
President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker says that March 28 was a great success for both Georgia and the European Union (EU).
President of the European Council Donald Tusk said today is a special day as visa free regime for Georgian citizens to the European Union (EU) has entered into force.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hosted his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Kvirikashvili, stating it was an honour for him that Greece had been chosen as his first visa-free destination.
Today is a day Georgians have awaited for years. A number of international leaders have taken to Twitter to share their happiness for Georgia. Some of them even issued a congratulatory video message in Georgian.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili met with the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite during his first visa-free visit to Vilnius.
An auditorium at a Lithuanian university will be named after Georgia’s highly-esteemed public figure, writer, poet and 19th Century journalist Ilia Chavchavadze.
The Lithuanian parliament has prepared a four-year action plan on support to Georgia.
Four years ago on this day the regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians to travel to the European Union entered into effect.