The Decree of the President of Romania Mr. Traiano Basescu says that the award is given to the Mayor  for personal contribution in developing mutual relations between Romania and Lithuania.  Two other persons from Lithuania have been also awarde by the Romanian National  Order - the sculptor Vladimiras Karčiauskas and the Chairperson of Lithuanian Romanian Culture Community Liučija Bartkienė.

"It is the award devoted to the City of Panevėžys. It was very unpredictable and pleasant. We have been cooperating with the Ambassador of Romania for several years already.  It turned into friendship between our city, Panevėžys District and the County of Maramures. In autumn, we signed the Letter of Cooperation Intent and I do hoope that it will sonn become the Cooperation Agreement  in the nearest future",- said the Mayor V. Satkevičius by stressing that cooperation possibilities between cultural institutions, buciness structures and organisations have been discussed with the authorities of Maramures.

The regional centre Baia Mare(Maramures County) with 120 000 of inhabitants has 4 universities, 5 museums, an Art School, a modern library. The former industrial city is situated in a picturesque footstep of mountains, it has its history, the highest wooden churches included into the list of UNESCO.