A Council of Europe information point for Belarusian citizens will be inaugurated at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library in Vilnius on Tuesday, with official operations expected to begin this summer.
The office will provide Belarusians with information about the Council of Europe’s work and values and support cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society through the Council of Europe Contact Group program.
The information point will operate in premises currently managed by the national library under a five-year loan agreement covering around 24 square meters of space.
Under the arrangement, Lithuania has committed to compensating or exempting, in accordance with national law, any taxes related to goods and services purchased for the office. The Council of Europe will cover the costs of installing and maintaining the premises, as well as staffing and other operational expenses.
The inauguration ceremony is to be attended by Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset.
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