News

On 20 April Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis congratulated the winners of the final round of students’ political science competition. Marius Šačikauskas, a student of Vytautas Magnus University, won the first place and was invited to the Community of Democracies event, which will be held on 1 July in Vilnius.

“I wish you to grow a new generation of democratic leaders. Democracy is not given, you have to build it every day with you faith in democratic ideals, with you work and concentration”, A. Ažubalis said.

The second place in the competition was taken by Ignas Kalpokas, the third - by Tomas Statkevicius.

The winners were chosen after written test and participation in debates in the Foreign Ministry.

The competition is part of “Young Leaders” contest for pupils and students initiated by Lithuanian Ministry Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education.

The commission, that judged young political scientists, consisted of MFA Ambassador at Large Ina Marčiulionytė, Chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defense Committee Arvydas Anušauskas, academician Giedrius Česnakas and Chairman of the Young Leaders Forum Viktorija Bražiūnaitė.

Lithuanian Young Leader’s award will be presented during the Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in presence of about a thousand politicians and guests from all over the world.

For two years Lithuania has chaired the Community of Democracies, which comprises more than hundred democratic states around the world. According to A.Azubalis, during  the Presidency, Lithuania sought to make this community even more significant, more important and more visible worldwide.