Greetings to VilNews from the Holy Land!

Postcard from Darius Degutis, Lithuania’s Ambassador to Israel and South Africa

Lithuania and Israel are 4000 kilometers apart but this does not prevent us from enjoying and developing a strong partnership. Together, our two countries are embarking on an agenda which is directed at our future, at the opportunities that the 21st century provide to us – we are expanding our economic ties, developing cooperation in the fields of high-tech and innovations, boosting the spirit of entrepreneurship, promoting tourism.

2010 was a remarkable year for our partnership: Israeli Foreign Minister paid a first ever official visit to Lithuania, we witnessed an exchange of seven high level Governmental and Parliamentary visits, three Lithuanian business forums were held in Israel, and a number of cultural events took place. A very positive year of 2010 was crowned by the visit of the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Andrius Kubilius, the first in 16 years.

We have promising plans for 2011 as well: the visit of President Peres to Lithuania is expected, Israel’s Minister of Trade and Industry will bring to Lithuania an Israeli business mission, Lithuania will participate in an International Tourism Exhibition in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem Book Fair, an Lithuanian IT companies are planning further expansion of their activities in Israel.

A very special place is devoted to the history of the Lithuanian Jewish community – the Litvaks. Their story covers the period of more than 600 years. Jews came to Lithuania in the 14th century and they were granted full privileges and rights by Lithuanian Grand Dukes Gediminas and Vytautas Magnus. Later in 1623 the Lithuanian state acknowledged self governed Jewish council which enabled Jewish community to carry its autonomous and fully fledged life.

President of Israel Shimon Peres once said, “you can not be Jewish unless you are Lithuanian or a Litvak as it is known in Yiddish language and Litvak is not just the name of the place, it is a unique character and a major culture”.

Vilnius was not just the main city for the Litvaks, it also served as a cultural and spiritual center for Jewish communities of the whole region. Even today we hear the echo of the wisdom of Elijah ben Shlomo or as he is widely known Gaon of Vilna (1720-1797).

Litvaks have left an important and deep footprint in the history of Lithuania. They contributed significantly to the development of culture, science, business not only in Lithuania and Israel, but in many other countries as well.

President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Samuel Bak, Menachem Begin, Eliezer Ben Yehuda, Romain Gary, David Gering, Laurence Harvey, Jascha Heifetz, Grigorij Kanovich, Jacque Lipschitz, Icchokas Meras and many, many other most prominent people and outstanding personalities who are recognized and respected all over the world belong to the same family – the family of Litvaks.

But nothing brings Lithuania and Israel closer than our common passion for basketball. Sarunas Jasikevcius or Sharas as he widely is known in Israel is a true hero of our two nations. Equally loved and praised by every Lithuanian and Israeli, Sharas, by helping Maccabi team to win two European trophies, became a living legend for basketball fans all over Israel.

The European Basketball Championship of 2011 will be held in Lithuania. Shall we say that Lithuania becomes a champion by winning over Israel in the final...?

Ambassador Darius Degutis

Graduated from Vilnius University in 1986. Began his work career in the International Chamber of Commerce, Lithuania Branch. Later export Manager for the company Audėjas. Joined the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991, Nordic countries department. Was appointed Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission to the Lithuanian Embassy in Denmark, 1992. 1998-2001: Deputy chief of mission at the Lithuanian Embassy in USA. 2001-2004: Ambassador in Poland. 2009: Appointed Ambassador of Lithuania to the states of Israel and South Africa.
D. Degutis was awarded the Order for Merits to Lithuania the Commander’s Cross.