In the opening remarks, Rector Prof. Sergei Ignatov recalled, how in June 2004 EHU was brutally shut down by Belarusian authorities and said: “15 years ago everything that you see would be impossible. Back in 2004, EHU was shut down in Minsk by Belarusian authorities. There was no Campus, no Ceremony, and virtually, no University in October 2004”. Rector Prof. Ignatov continued: “EHU is distinctive by our commitment to Belarus as an inseparable part of the Western world. We believe that Eastern Europe should belong to the European intellectual tradition […] Belarus is rooted in the mission of EHU, but I want you – students of EHU – not to be limited by only one ethnic narrative. Instead, I want you to be true members of the free and united family of European nations”.
Vice Minister Neris Germanas stressed the role of EHU students and graduates in fostering the evolvement of civil society in Belarus and encouraged freshmen students to take advantage of the opportunities, provided by Vilnius for Belarusian students of EHU. Vice Minister Germanas said: “I have no doubts that EHU, as a Belarusian University in Vilnius, should continue its important mission, helping to strengthen ties between Lithuania and Belarus. We should hope that the majority of EHU students, who upon graduation return to Belarus, will share their experience with other Universities, civil society organizations, will develop their businesses and potentially will be working in neighboring country’s public sector”.
Dr. Žygimantas Pavilionis began his speech by paying respect to late Ambassador Renatas Juška, who has been a strong supporter of EHU mission and has been instrumental in reestablishing University’s operations in Vilnius. Dr. Pavilionis highlighted that Lithuania will always remain supportive of democratic transformations of Belarus, thus EHU students and graduates can rely on the assistance of Lithuanian counterparts in securing Belarus’ place in the family of European nations.
President Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov made a closing statement by referring to the mission of University and its interrelationship with studies, provided by EHU.
In Academic Year 2019/20 EHU has 685 students, 95% of them are citizens and permanent residents of Belarus. Since EHU’s relocation to Vilnius, 2457 graduates have received their Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the only Belarusian liberal arts University.
