NEW EUROPEAN INFORMATION CENTRE IN ŠALČININKAI WILL ENCOURAGE LOCALS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF EU MEMBERSHIP
On 16 January, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis opened the European Information Centre in Šalčininkai. The Minister said that this centre would encourage the local population to take advantage of the benefits of the EU membership.
“It is sometimes said that Europe ends in Lithuania, namely, at the eastern border in Šalčininkai. I would put it differently. This is exactly where Europe begins. Modern Europe has some of its roots here. Pope John Paul II once said that he could see the origins of the European Union already in the Union of Lublin. Traces of free, multi-ethnic and dynamic Europe take us back to the historical Commonwealth of the Two Nations,” Ažubalis said during the discussion that followed the opening of the centre.The Minister reminded of the words by former Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, who was trying to make peace between members of the Solidarity movement and Communists, that when aiming at a breakthrough “disagreements of the past must be struck through with a thick line”. He called on the local people to get actively engaged in the creation of Lithuania’s future.
The public discussion with the local community at the Šalčininkai district municipality focused on opportunities and benefits of the EU membership.
The Minister also stressed the importance of each town and city and of their contribution to Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013.
“We wish the state to be properly prepared for this test. Therefore, we are organizing such thematic discussions with local communities across the country,” Ažubalis said.
He also visited the Jašiūnai manor, included on the list of cultural heritage, and its cemetery to pay homage at the graves of famous 19th century Vilnius University scholars Jan Sniadecki and Michal Balinski.
The European Information Centre in Šalčininkai will provide the local population with free information about Lithuania’s EU membership, will organise seminars and training, and will celebrate the Europe Day.
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