Lithuanian Argentines


Lithuanian Argentines are Argentine citizens who are fully, partially, or predominantly of Lithuanian descent, or Lithuanian-born people residing in Argentina. During the 1920s about 35,000 Lithuanians arrived in Argentina.

History

Pioneers and settlements

In 1909, a group of Lithuanian immigrants from the cities of Ensenada and Berisso founded the Lithuanian Mutual Aid Society Vargdienis, whose prominent members were the Lithuanian gentlemen Rimavičius, Pavilonis, Bogužas and Baltušis. With less specific dates it is known that even before the First World War there had been organisations of Lithuanian immigrants in Villa Diego, near Rosario, Santa Fe and in the city of Avellaneda. The collectivity of Berisso meanwhile adopted the name of Nemunas, which retains to the present. The Lithuanian diaspora in Argentina have their own radio programme called "Echoes of Lithuania".
There is also a significant Lithuanian-Jewish community.

Argentina-Lithuania relations

The last visit by a Lithuanian leader to the country occurred in 2008, when President Valdas Adamkus visited Buenos Aires. Both countries historically maintained good relations since they were first established in 1921. After Soviet domination, in 1991, Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize the country's independence.

Organisations

They established their own institutions: Sociedad Lituana de Socorros Mutuos Vargdienis, Aušros žvaigždė, Susivienijimas lietuvių Argentinoje, Nemunas.

Notable Lithuanian Argentines