LITHUANIA’S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
On 29 April, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze visited Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, where they met with Rector of the University Zigmas Lydeka and took part in the discussion “NATO and the European Union: Enlargement, Challenges and Possibilities”.
Minister V.Ušackas congratulated Vytautas Magnus University on its 20th anniversary this year. The Minister suggested that Vytautas Magnus University and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków should organize an international historical conference marking the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Žalgiris (Grunwald) and to invite to the conference representatives from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and all the other nations that fought in the battle.
After the meeting with the Rector of the University, Foreign Ministers of Lithuania and Georgia and University’s academic community held a discussion on the issues of NATO and European Union. President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Jeffrey Gedmin and Professor Ričardas Krickus took part in the discussion.
While giving a speech at Vytautas Magnus University, Minister V.Ušackas looked back on Lithuania and Georgia’s path to freedom and independence.
“Lithuania and Georgia are separated by geographical distance; however, experience and fostered values bring our countries and their people together. Twenty years ago people from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed the Baltic chain (the Baltic Way) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. Twenty years ago in Tbilisi, and later in Vilnius, Soviet tanks mowed down peaceful demonstrators. Tens of people perished in the capitals of Georgia and Lithuania. Today, just like twenty years ago, we have to join our forces to fight for a united, free and peaceful Europe,” said V.Ušackas.
Recalling Lithuania’s integration into the EU and NATO, Minister V.Ušackas assured that Lithuania was ready to support and assist Georgia, which seeks to become a member of these organizations and encouraged it to launch the necessary political and economic reforms.
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