News

A delegation of esteemed diplomats and officials from various European countries convened at EHU in Vilnius on March 21 as part of a diplomatic visit to engage with the Belarusian Democratic Forces. The visit included meetings with the University’s top administration, faculty, Trust Fund Manager, and a dynamic discussion session with students.

The delegation, comprised of representatives from Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, as well as the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR), demonstrated a unified commitment to supporting democratic initiatives in Belarus.

Among the distinguished participants were:

Simone Gerrits, Senior Policy Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium

Constantinos Christofides, Head of Department of Eastern Europe from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus

David Stulik, Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic

Matthias Vollert, Head of Division for the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany

Louise Holmsgaard, Deputy Director for European Neighbourhood from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Kärt Juhasoo-Lawrence, Counsellor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia

Marko Koplimaa, Special Representative for the Democratic Forces of Belarus from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia

Gabriel Cremades, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain

Jaana Teckenberg, Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership from the Government of Finland

Violaine de Villemeur, Special Envoy for Belarus from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France

Asterios Bouzias, First Counsellor and Acting Director from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece

Dearbhla Doyle, Director Eastern Neighbourhood and OSCE from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland

Emanuele de Maigret, Ambassador of Italy to Lithuania

Alice Barberis, Deputy Head of Mission of Italy to Lithuania

Mantas Jakimavičius, Deputy Director of the Eastern Neighbourhood Policy Department from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

Uldis Mikuts, Director of the First Bilateral Relations Department from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia

Rein Dekkers, Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands

Viorel Cojocaru, Head of the Eastern Europe & Central Asia division from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania

Christina Johannesson, Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership from the Government of Sweden

Dirk Schuebel, Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership from the European External Action Service (EEAS)

Agnieszka Widlaszewska, Desk officer for Belarus and Russia from the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR)

Malgorzata Hacus, Desk officer for Belarus and Azerbaijan from the European External Action Service (EEAS)

The discussions held during the visit underscored the collective commitment to promoting democratic values, fostering academic freedom, and supporting the aspirations of the Belarusian people for a free and prosperous future. Noteworthy topics included the integration of Belarusian identity within the core curriculum and the future career plans of students post-university.

The students actively engaged in the discussions, showcasing their passion and dedication to contributing positively to the future of Belarus. The participants expressed their satisfaction with the fruitful exchange of ideas and the vibrant atmosphere of intellectual discourse.

EHU expresses heartfelt gratitude for the ongoing support from the visiting dignitaries and their respective countries in advancing the cause of democracy and academic freedom in Belarus.