On 17 October 2024 in Riga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, who has arrived in Latvia on a working visit. The two ministers took part in the ceremony for the presentation of the Balts’ Award, received this year by the linguistics scholar and professor Pēteris Vanags. The Ministers also took part in the inauguration of the renovated premises of the Lithuanian Embassy.
Baiba Braže offered warm thanks to Gabrielius Landsbergis warmly for current cooperation and for his personal contribution to strengthening relations between Latvia and Lithuania. The Ministers discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the priorities of Latvia and Lithuania in regard to the EU multi-annual budget and the strengthening security at the EU’s external borders, and issues high on the EU agenda.
The Ministers welcomed the close coordination and mutual support in security and foreign affairs matters, including by providing support to Ukraine and letting Ukraine’s voice be heard globally. Baiba Braže and Gabrielius Landsbergis agreed that Ukraine’s success in the battlefield is closely related to security in Europe and much more, and at a greater speed, must be done in support of Ukraine.
“The Baltic States and Nordic countries are the world’s second largest donor in terms of military support to Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting not only for itself, but for all of us. Our shared priority is to degrade Russia’s combat capabilities, to continue providing military, financial and other support to Ukraine, as well as to achieve international support for Ukraine and ensure that Russia is held accountable in every possible format. Russia’s intense and brutal attacks on Ukraine prove and remind us daily that Ukraine must be provided all the military and financial support it neds to strengthen its combat capabilities and air defences – and this also includes lifting any restrictions on Ukraine using long-range weapons on military targets inside Russia,” says Baiba Braže.
The officials recalled with satisfaction the visits to Moldova and Ukraine undertaken just now by the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic States and Nordic countries (NB8). The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to make further targeted and coordinated efforts in the enforcement of sanctions against Russia in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
In an official ceremony following the meeting, with the Diplomatic Choir performing songs in Latvian and Lithuanian, the Ministers presented the annual Balts’ Award granted by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania in recognition of excellence and achievement in research, fostering and strengthening of the Balts’ heritage. This year’s Balts’ Award went to Professor of the University of Latvia and Stockholm University, Pēteris Vanags, for his long-standing contribution to research in the Baltic linguistics, and sharing of knowledge and expertise.
At the award ceremony, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže underlined: “The Balts’ Award is being presented by the Latvian and Lithuanian Foreign Ministries for the seventh time. A systemic, thorough and painstaking research of languages and broadening of our knowledge is of key importance. That is why the Balts’ Award was established and that is why it is important to carry this tradition forward. This is our heritage, and nobody but us will do it. Therefore, we take great pride in all the nominees for the Balts’ Award. I would like to thank all of you for your selfless effort in the research and promotion of our languages.”
The Balts’ Award of 5000 euros consists of equal contributions from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania. There were five nominees for this year’s award. The Balts’ Award has been presented since 2018, contributing considerably to the research and promotion of Baltic heritage.
Further information
The Balts’ Award is bestowed for excellence and achievement in research, fostering and strengthening of Baltic heritage. The Balts Award has been presented by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania since since 2018. The Award has been previously granted to professor and linguist Laimutė Balodė; professor and long-standing head of Latvian Studies Centre at Vytautas Magnus University, Alvydas Butkus; diplomat and linguist Alberts Sarkanis; lecturer, head of the Baltic Centre at Siauliai University, Regina Kvašytė; translator Dace Meiere. In 2023, the award went to the translator, lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities and Director of the Centre for Lithuanian Studies at the University of Latvia, Edmundas Trumpa.
The recipient of this year’s award Pēteris Vanags is a linguistics scholar, professor, promoter of the Baltic languages worldwide. He was nominated by the Latvian Language Institute of the University of Latvia for his work falling into four realms – research, education, knowledge transfer, and expertise. https://www.su.se/profiles/pva-1.184927
