Today, in commemorating the events marking the 85th anniversary of the liquidation of Panevėžys Ghetto, the Ambassador of Israel to Lithuania H.E. Ms. Shelly Hugler Livne visited the city municipality.

This is the Ambassador's first visit to Panevėžys. In meeting the honourable guest, the Mayor of Panevėžys Ms. Loreta Masiliūnienė and the Deputy Mayor Rytis Račkauskas focused the on cherishing of the memory and preserving the history of the city's Jewish community, paying tribute to Holocaust victims and discussing Panevėžys relations with Israel.

"The history of Panevėžys cannot be imagined without the Jewish community that lived here. These were the people of our city -families, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, and cultural creators whose lives were brutally cut short by the Holocaust. Therefore, today we remember not just historical facts, we remember the people and the community that built Panevėžys. It is our responsibility to preserve this memory, to speak openly about this painful history, and to pass it on to the younger generation. It is meaningful that your first visit to Panevėžys is taking place today. I believe that respect for history can also serve as a foundation for a live dialogue between the people of Panevėžys and Israel," said Loreta Masiliūnienė, Mayor of Panevėžys City.

During the meeting, important infrastructure and economic development issues for the city and region were discussed. The Ambassador showed interest in updates on the "Rail Baltica" project, as well as the prospects for the new free economic zone and the city's economic development. Attention was also given to crisis and emergency management situations during the conversation.

The meeting with the mayor also covered the preservation of historical memory, raising awareness of Jewish heritage, education and opportunities to continue Panevėžys cooperation with Israel partners. The long-standing history of relations between Panevėžys and Israel was also highlighted. Panevėžys City Municipality shares an official partnership with the Municipality of Ramla in Israel. The cooperation between the two cities has spanned over two decades and stands as one of the long-term examples of city partnerships between Lithuania and Israel.