The document states that Lithuania and Israel have struggled to earn independence and overcome numerous challenges in their march towards better democracies, fair societies, indispensable human liberties, rights, peace, and freedom. When the two countries stand together, no challenge is too great to overcome.
The presidents underline that the people of Lithuania and Israel have centuries of shared history. For many years, Jewish life in Lithuania thrived. In Vilnius, and other Lithuanian cities and towns, modern Yiddish and Hebrew culture flourished, and many Jews and Christians labored to build for themselves a better and more peaceful life.
Following the Soviet occupation early during World War II, which tragically ended Lithuanias independence, the subsequent Nazi occupation inflicted great pain and huge losses upon the Jewish community. It is our utmost duty through remembrance and education to make sure that the incomparable tragedy of the Holocaust never happens again.
The joint statement by the Presidents of Lithuania and Israel emphasizes that maintaining good and close relations is in the interests of both states, and today, as in the past, cooperation between Israelis and Lithuanians has born remarkable fruits. There are numerous areas in which the relations between Lithuania and Israel are already quite strong and many more spheres in which the partnership could and will be expanded. Both countries are successfully developing high technologies. Lithuania is the global leader in laser technologies and communications, and Israel is the frontrunner in research and innovation. The two countries exchange experience in medicine, share methods of education and reveal their cultural treasures, cooperate in the fields of defense and security, look for opportunities to export and import from each other.
Today Lithuania and Israel are ready for closer work in preparing joint youth exchange programs, building cooperation between universities and schools of our countries. In the halls of the United Nations, Lithuania strongly supported Israel while, in turn, Israel has aided Lithuania in its goal to join the OECD. Everywhere you look, the ties between the two nations get deeper and stronger.
The presidents welcome the progress already achieved and reaffirm the commitment to work together to establish a close partnership aimed at common political, economic and social goals. Peace, prosperity, and freedom for all are the highest aspirations and Lithuania and Israel will continue to strive for them united.
