News

During a working visit in France on 8 February, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with the French Lithuanian Community at the Embassy of Lithuania in Paris.

Minister V.Ušackas thanked the members of the community for their input into strengthening cultural and historical relations with Lithuania. Minister said that one of the most important priorities of the present government is cooperation with Lithuanians abroad, seeking to maintain cultural traditions and to foster the Lithuanian language.

Over forty representatives of the community came to the discussion with the Minister: economists, lawyers, bankers, businessmen, artists and sportsmen.

“Every Lithuanian living abroad is a Lithuanian Ambassador,” said V.Ušackas.

While inviting the assembled to enhance the image of  Lithuania in France, Minister briefly presented the goal of his visit – to develop the strategic political, economic, energy dialogue with France, which is one of the most important economic and political countries in the world and Europe.

During the conversation with head of the Lithuanian diplomacy, Lithuanians living in France were curious why it was worth to return to Lithuania, what challenges the Lithuanians faced on their return from abroad and how, in the Minister’s opinion, these challenges could be dealt with.

“Let’s come back and create such Lithuania, as we wish it to be, and which we would not want to leave,” emphasized Minister V.Ušackas.

He added that currently in Lithuania there were many possibilities to start some interesting activity.

In the opinion of Chairman of the French Lithuanian Community Linas Maknavičius, Lithuanians living abroad positively assess the wish of the new government to strengthen ties with them.

Today Minister V.Ušackas is holding a meeting with French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner, Minister of State for European Affairs Bruno Le Maire and other high-ranking officials.