News

On 27 August at the Lithuanian Embassy in Latvia, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and leaders of the organizations of Latvia’s Lithuanians discussed the “Global Lithuania” development strategy that was prepared by Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).The Minister stressed that this strategy should be should be jointly created and owned not by the MFA, but by those who hold themselves Lithuanians and those who agree with the idea of the consolidation of the Lithuanian diaspora.

According to the Minister, the approved strategy would be a significant tool for joining the efforts of all the competent authorities, and would consolidate the state policy for fostering the Lithuanian language and identity, for strengthening ties within the nation and for involving more people, who hold themselves Lithuanians, into various spheres of public life of the state.

Latvia’s Lithuanians approved of this strategy. However, they stressed the need of material support for the organizations of Lithuanians living abroad that are fostering the Lithuanian identity and preparing various projects. Latvia’s Lithuanians also voiced hope that the strategy would really be an effective programme and not just another “paper” document.

Minister A.Ažubalis presented sets of instructional aids to the Lithuanian schools of Daugavpils, Jelgava and Liepaja, and first-former passports, publications for children on road safety and reflectors to the first-year pupils of Riga’s Lithuanian secondary school.