LITHUANIA celebrared its independence annivesary on saturday 16b th feb 2008 in LondonLithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic republics.
Not much more than a decade after it regained its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania was welcomed as a Nato member in late March 2004.
The history of Lithuania has close ties with that of Poland, its neighbour to the southwest. By the end of the 18th century most of the country came under the Russian empire.
Lithuania has embraced market reform since independence. In the run up to and period following EU entry the republic saw very strong economic growth. It applied to join the eurozone from January 2007 but was rejected because the inflation rate was too high.
2002 November - Nato summit in Prague includes Lithuania on list of countries formally invited to join the alliance
Population: 3.4 million (UN, 2007)Capital: Vilnius
Area: 65,300 sq km (25,212 sq miles)
Major languages Lithuanian, Russian
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
