Two Vilnius University Community Members Honoured with the State Awards of the Republic of Poland

Dr Artūras Vasiliauskas and Dr Konstanty Radziwiłł. Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius / Photo by W. Dowejko

This Tuesday, in the courtyard of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius, on the occasion of the 3 May Constitution Day, a solemn reception was held to honour citizens with State awards for their merits in fostering Polish-Lithuanian cooperation and for their activities in the interest of the Polish community of Lithuania. The list of honourees included two members of the Vilnius University (VU) community: Dr Artūras Vasiliauskas, the Pro-Rector for Partnerships, and Dr Ilona Michailovič, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law.

The Pro-Rector for Partnerships Dr Vasiliauskas was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit, and Assoc. Prof. Michailovič – the Bronze Cross of Merit. Both members of the VU community were honoured for their merits in developing cooperation between Polish and Lithuanian research communities and universities.

Assoc. Prof. Ilona Michailovič and Dr Konstanty Radziwiłł. Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius / Photo by W. Dowejko

The State Awards granted to Lithuanian citizens by Andrzej Duda, the President of the Republic of Poland, were presented by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Lithuania Dr Konstanty Radziwiłł. “On this occasion, I would like to celebrate the current status of relations between Poland and Lithuania. Thirty years after the signing of the Polish–Lithuanian Treaty of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation, our countries cooperate closely in all key areas: politics, security, infrastructure, economy, science, culture, and even sports. We are major and reliable partners in all formats of multilateral and bilateral cooperation,” the Ambassador said at the awards ceremony.

“Your Excellency Ambassador, to receive a Polish State award from you is of special significance. As a historian, I read hundreds of letters written by the Radziwiłł family in the 17th century, and I could never imagine that I myself would receive an award from a Radziwiłł. I think it is very symbolic to receive an award from you, a man who continues to build relationships between our two countries, following in the footsteps of his family generations over the centuries. Thanks for all your efforts and thanks to the Republic of Poland for appreciating our sincere contribution to building trust and understanding between the two countries,” said Dr Vasiliauskas, the Pro-Rector for Partnerships.