The Council of Europe and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania have signed an agreement for the establishment of the Council of Europe Information Point for Belarusian people in Vilnius.
"This is an important contribution to our support for Belarusian democratic forces and civil society. The Information Point will not only provide information about the Council of Europe and its work. It is a sign of hope for all those who strive for democratic values," said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.
"I am convinced that the Information Point for Belarusian People in Vilnius will play a pivotal role in raising awareness and strengthening capacity in the area of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in order to build a future democratic and prosperous Belarus," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis.
The Council of Europe Contact Group on co-operation with Representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, set up by the Ministers' Deputies in September 2022, meets regularly in order to provide Council of Europe support and expertise to strengthen Belarusian democratic society in line with the organisation's core values and its activities to promote human rights, rule of law and democracy.
The Information Point will be providing information on the work as well as the values and principles of the Council of Europe to the people of Belarus and supporting activities carried out in Lithuania under the action plan agreed by the Contact Group.
The opening of the Information Point is one of the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
The agreement was signed on 13 November by Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and Minister Landsbergis.
