VILNIUS, October 21, BNS–Israel’s president and prime minister take pride in their Lithuanian origin and feel sentimental about Lithuania, Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevičius. currently visiting Israel, said.

“Both the Israeli president and prime minister emphasized their Lithuanian roots, they’re both Litvaks. Clearly, a lot of time has passed since then but they’re proud of their history, their family history and both say that their families come from Lithuania. Without doubt, such sentiments are important, because relationships are different that those wtih other countries where there’s no such link,” Linkevičius told BNS.

The Lithuanian foreign minister said he sensed favorable feelings towards Lithuania during meetings with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We have to take advantage of this, this is highly felt in the atmosphere of conversations; they are very warm, highly business-like and very specific,” said the Lithuanian diplomatic chief who is in Israel as part of the delegation led by president Dalia Grybauskaitė.

BNS