The Lithuanian leader confers the Order of Vytautas the Great on Mr.
Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic
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The President awards Edita Pucinskaite, the winner of Tour de France
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"The President of the Republic shall confer State awards."
Article 84 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
Decorations are the expression of honour shown by the State for a person. The President of the Republic of Lithuania confers state decorations - orders and medals - on Lithuanian citizens and foreign nationals in recognition of their contributions to Lithuania.
The highest state decorations of Lithuania - the Order of Vytautas the Great, the Order of the Cross of Vytis and the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas were established in the independent pre-war Lithuania. They were re-instituted by the Law on State Orders, Medals and Other Awards, which the Supreme Council - the Reconstituent Seimas of Lithuania passed on 12 September 1991.
The Law has re-instituted almost all medals and other distinctions of pre-war Lithuania. After the restoration of independence, Lithuania issued two special medals: the Medal of January 13 and the Medal of Darius and Girenas.
The state orders and medals of Lithuania form a part of the national heraldry.
