News

On 27 February, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas, who is paying an official visit to Israel, was received by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

During the meeting, possibilities of a more active political, cultural and economic cooperation between Lithuania and Israel were discussed.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that it was necessary to strengthen the dialogue of the intellectuals, academia and youth.

‘Many people of Lithuanian descent live in Israel, among them there are especially outstanding personalities and people in the field of culture, whom both Lithuanian an Israel are proud of. We shall promote a closer partnership between our countries by promoting people to people relations in particular, in the areas of culture, education and science especially,’ said the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

As a Litvak, Israeli President Sh.Peres poured out his own warm feelings for Lithuania and had interest in the important issues of today’s life in Lithuania.

During the meeting, issues of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy were also discussed. P.Vaitiekūnas acquainted the Israeli President with Lithuania’s experience in the European Union decision-making. The representatives of the countries exchanged their opinions on important EU foreign policy issues and discussed possibilities of cooperation.

Speaking about economic relations, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli President indicated that not all the possibilities of cooperation had been exhausted yet. According to President Sh.Peres, Israel could offer to Lithuania its experience in those areas, where it is most forward: that is namely the modern agriculture, pharmacy and information technologies.

Minister P. Vaitiekūnas invited the President to visit Lithuania and to take part in the World Litvak Forum and the events of Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009 that were to be held the next year, during the commemoration of the millennium of the first reference to the name of Lithuania.

At the end of the meeting, Minister P.Vaitiekūnas conveyed to the Israeli President drawings and the best regards from the pupils of Vilnius Sholom Aleichem Secondary School.

On 27 February, the meetings of Minister P.Vaitiekūnas with Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Speaker Dalia Itzik and the members of Litvak community are also planned. In the evening the Minister will give a lecture on the European Union Neighbourhood policy in the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya.