Council of Europe Information Point for Belarusians to Open Especially for Belarusians in Vilnius National Library
According to the agreement between Lithuania and the Council of Europe, an information point for citizens of Belarus is being established in Vilnius, which will use premises in the Martynas Mažvydas National Library for five years, LRT reports .
Martynas Mažvydas National Library. Photo: Wikipedia
The Lithuanian government unanimously approved the Ministry of Culture's proposal to establish a special information point for citizens of Belarus in Vilnius. The office will be located in the Martynas Mažvydas National Library building and will operate based on an agreement between Lithuania and the Council of Europe.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers' decision, a room of approximately 24 square meters will be transferred for free use to the international organization for a period of five years.
Renovation and re-equipping are currently underway there to meet the requirements of the Council of Europe — previously, readers would independently pick up ordered books in this space. The Council of Europe will fully cover the costs of renovation and maintenance of the office.
Library director Aušra Žilinskienė announced that the agreement could be signed within the next two weeks. At the new point, Belarusians will be able to receive information about the activities of the Council of Europe, as well as about programs supporting Belarusian civil society in Lithuania.
The decision to establish the center was the result of agreements reached back in November 2024 between the then-head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Bjørn Berge. Lithuania also undertook obligations regarding tax benefits to ensure the operation of the office.
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