Prof Nili Cohen, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and Prof. Valdemaras Razumas, President of the Lithuanian Academy, signed the agreement in the presence of H.E. Amir Maimon, Israel’s Ambassador to Lithuania.

 

The cooperation agreement recognizes the desirability of further enhancing scientific and scholarly relations between the Academies and of fostering links between individual researchers in both countries. It calls for encouraging mutual visits by researchers from Israel and Lithuania, in order to promote research collaboration and improve academic cooperation. It also sets the framework for bilateral symposia and workshops alternating between Israel and Lithuania. The agreement is valid until 2020, and can be renewed at that point by mutual agreement by both academies.

 

In remarks following the ceremony, Prof. Nili Cohen noted that for Israelis, pre-holocaust “Lithuania is linked with Jewish heritage, with knowledge, with culture. Vilnius was called Jerusalem of Lithuania. This agreement embodies the hope that the enhanced scientific relations between our countries will be a source of pride for the benefit of the Lithuanian and Israeli people and for the benefit of humanity as a whole.”

 

Prior to the signing ceremony Prof. Cohen met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius. He described Lithuanian advances in scientific research – most notably in laser technology, genetics and biotech. "Lithuania is fascinated with the achievements of Israel in the area of research and innovation”, he said, adding that the country may learn from Israel’s successful experience of working with the EU.

 

 

(from the right: Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, Prof. Nili Cohen, President of the
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, H.E. Amir Maimon, Israel’s Ambassador to  Lithuania
and Prof. Valdemaras Razumas, President of the Lithuanian Academy / photo: the Israel Academy)