MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF LITHUANIA: WE ARE SEEKING TO RE-ESTABLISH OUR LOST ALLIANCE WITH LITVAKS
On 18 December, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vygaudas Ušackas received Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Republic of Lithuania Chen Ivri, who is residing in Riga.
During the first meeting with the Israeli Ambassador, Minister V.Ušackas expressed hope that in the nearest future an Embassy of Israel would open also in Vilnius.
Ambassador Ch.Ivri was glad that bilateral relations of the two countries were getting stronger and assured that Israel was grateful to Lithuania for its support in the United Nations and the European Union.
During the conversation with Minister V.Ušackas, Ambassador raised issues, which were not yet solved – the restitution of the Jewish communal property in Lithuania and the decisions on the former cemetery in Šnipiškės. The Minister assured the Ambassador that the new Lithuanian Government would tackle those issues.
Minister V.Ušackas indicated that Lithuania saw a friendly and reliable partner in Israel, with which Lithuania is linked by history. Foreign Minister indicated that Lithuania had not forgotten painful episodes of Lithuanian-Jewish relations during Holocaust. Lithuania is doing everything possible and will continue to do so, in order to make sure that history will not be forgotten. The Minister presented a solid input of Lithuania in the areas of education on Holocaust and its memorialisation. Moreover, V.Ušackas noted that it was necessary to foster present bilateral relations, having in mind well-being of future generations and mutual understanding.
The interlocutors also talked about the World Litvak Congress, which is going to be held in August 2009, in Vilnius. Minister V.Ušackas drew Ambassador’s attention to the fact that Lithuania respected and valued the input of Litvaks into the history and culture of Lithuania very much. Therefore, in Minister’s words, we shall seek to re-establish the lost alliance with those of our compatriots, who have been dispersed all around the world.
Speaking about the economic cooperation, the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy promised to dedicate particular attention to the implementation of concrete projects with Israel in the area of high technologies.
Minister V.Ušackas and Ambassador Ch.Ivri put forward an idea to exchange visits of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in 2009.
