President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs Visits Vilnius University

On 15 July, the President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, visited Vilnius University (VU). He met with VU Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas and viewed documents and manuscripts significant to Lithuanian and Latvian history.

The President also met with the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Raminta Popovienė, and the Pro-Rector for Partnerships at Vilnius University, Dr Artūras Vasiliauskas. He was introduced to the history of VU, original works relating to Latvia preserved in the VU Library that illustrate the historical and cultural ties between Lithuania and Latvia, as well as the Library's unique collection of historical books tracing the development of Latvian printing.

During the visit, the Chief Archivist of Lithuania, Assoc. Prof. Inga Zakšauskienė, guided the President through key archival documents illustrating the history of bilateral diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Latvia, highlighting key milestones in cooperation between the two countries.

Among the manuscripts and rare prints presented to President Rinkēvičs were letters written by the distinguished Latvian linguist Prof. Jānis Endzelīns to the Lithuanian linguist Kazimieras Būga. The President was also shown a 16th-century view of the city of Riga by the German geographer Georg Braun and the engraver Frans Hogenberg from the atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum, as well as the oldest surviving book by Juris Elgers, a pioneer of Latvian writing and a Latvian preacher – a Latvian hymnbook, the only known surviving copy of which once belonged to the Vilnius Academy.

President Rinkēvičs also visited the Department of Baltic Studies at the VU Faculty of Philology, met with VU Baltic Studies scholars, and discussed the development of Baltic studies centres. He also viewed The Seasons, a fresco cycle by artist Prof. Petras Repšys depicting Baltic mythology. The tour was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas.