On August 22 in Vilnius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė met the new head of the Board of Lithuanian World Community (LWC) Danguolė Navickienė and the Representative of the community in Lithuania, Vida Bandis. It was agreed to continue to strengthen the cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and LWC, and to put in practice the idea of Global Lithuania, urm.lt reports.
“Cooperating for a common issue, and using the opportunities offered by this time, we must turn the idea of Global Lithuania into reality and lift the relations between Lithuania and Lithuanian diaspora to a new level”, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania said.
She also noticed that there is a tangible progress in the implementation of the Global Lithuania’s programme for 2011-2019 (involvement of Lithuanians living abroad in the State’s life), but in order to maintain this process, it is necessary to continue the cooperation between the Board of LWC and Lithuanian communities in different countries.
“Lithuanian World community’s activities are crucial to strengthen the links between Lithuanians living abroad, in order to enhance their involvement in Lithuania’s life”, A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė stressed.
During the meeting, there were also discussed the possibilities of growth for the LWC representation in Lithuania, the implementation of educational and cultural projects, concentrating on the diaspora’s support for Lithuania’s strategic issues.
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked the new president of the Board for her long-term philanthropy and financial support to the Lithuanian health care institutions.
IT specialist Danguolė Navickienė resides in California and is President of the “Lithuanian Children Hope” Los Angeles department that has donated more than 1.5 million US dollars for the Vilnius University Children’s Hospital since over 20 years.
The new Board was elected during the 14th World Lithuanian symposium held in Seimas, in August. D.Navickienė replaced Regina Narušienė who has been the board chairman of the LWC for six years.
