On Wednesday, July 15, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs visited Lithuania. During the visit, the Latvian head of state also visited Vilnius University (VU) and its Library.
President Rinkēvičs was welcomed by the Rector of VU, Prof. Dr. Rimvydas Petrauskas. Lithuania’s Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Raminta Popovienė, and VU Vice-Rector Dr. Artūras Vasiliauskas.
In the Pranciškus Smuglevičius Hall of the VU Library, Prof. Dr. R. Petrauskas introduced the Latvian President to key aspects of the University’s history, while Dr. Marija Prokopčik, Director of the Library’s Information Services Department, and Brigita Zorkienė, a specialist at the Rare Books Department, presented authentic Latvian studies books preserved in the VU Library, highlighting the historical and cultural ties between Lithuania and Latvia.
President Rinkēvičs and his delegation continued their visit at the VU Faculty of Philology, where they explored a collection of unique historical books reflecting the development of the Latvian written word, Petras Repšys’ fresco “The Seasons”, depicting Baltic mythology, and key archival documents testifying to the importance of the history of Lithuania–Latvia bilateral diplomatic relations and cooperation.
