'We must bring values back on European agenda': Linkevičius in Vilnius Democracy Forum
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius welcomed the first Vilnius Democracy Forum on 14-15 September, which explored challenges to security following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. During the event, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of values to foreign policy and called for striking a balance between values and interests.
“In today’s world there are worrisome signs – our values can be forgotten, balance between the values and interests can be lost. It is therefore gratifying that the Vilnius Democracy Forum has brought together Lithuanian and international experts and analysts, who think that values are important and are ready to keep issues of democracy on our foreign policy agenda. The mere fact that the United States of America has assumed the Presidency of the Community of Democracies, an organisation which was strengthened by Lithuania during its Presidency in 2009-2011, gives us a lot of hope,” said Linkevičius in the meeting with the participants of the forum.
The event was organized by the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, in cooperation with the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, Hudson Institute (USA), National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
The forum explored challenges to peace, security, freedom, the rule of law and violations of democracy in neighbouring countries.
The event was attended by scholars, policy makers, representatives of think tanks in Europe and the USA.
Social media
