Ambassador

A message from the new Lithuanian Ambassador to Israel  Shalom Israel!

As a new Lithuanian ambassador to the State of Israel I am happy and proud to be able to bring greetings and good wishes from the people of Lithuania to each and every Israeli.     

President Gitanas Nausėda has entrusted me to represent our beloved country Lithuania in Israel and in so doing, continue walking in the footsteps of my 6 predecessors following the establishment of diplomatic relations in the early 1990s. By now, thanks to collective efforts of a great many individuals, we have been able to build a rock-solid foundation for Lithuanian – Israeli friendship and cooperation. It will be my duty to see to it that this relationship grows and matures and turns into a genuine partnership of two nations after centuries of trials and tribulations.

I came back to Israel after 30 years to see a nation transformed. Israel has turned into a regional powerhouse of innovation and cutting-edge technology. It is now energy-sufficient and happens to lead in hydrogen technology development. A nation of scarce land and water resources can grow foodstuff in abundance because it relies on food-tech developed in universities. A nation of startups sets the standards for telecommunication companies and cyber security agencies and yet manages to remain resilient to external threats. From commerce to innovation, to art – the Israeli brand is known world-wide. Israel is a democracy where people are free to choose their way of life and government and build the future they want. In Israel I see many similarities with my country Lithuania and I see many opportunities of working together to co-create. Together we can create better products and better solutions to mitigate present day challenges of market volatility, global warming, food scarcity, hybrid threats and terrorism. Together, we can uphold the rules-based international order and restrain aggressors. In cooperation with other like-minded nations, we can search for peaceful solutions to protracted conflicts wherever they occur – in Europe, or in the Middle East. 

I am well aware of the burden that we Lithuanians, carry in Israel. Memories from the Holocaust will come to haunt us for the years to come. And as we are getting ready to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilna Ghetto on 23 September this year, we reflect on the human tragedy of epic proportions and renounce antisemitism in all its manifestations.

On September 1^st, which was my first day on the job, I had the pleasure of spending some time with the teachers and students of the Shalom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium in Vilnius. What an inspiration it was to see young people embrace the World without prejudice or pre-conceptions and aspire to excel in learning and community service. We have a bright future ahead of us, no doubt. It is our duty to empower the incoming young generation to succeed in life. There is work to be done and we better start now.

 Audrius Brūzga

Ambassador-designate

	Mr Audrius Brūzga Ambassador
Born:	September 23th, 1966
Birth place:	Kazlų Rūda, Marijampolė region, Lithuania
Marital status	Married to Imsrė Darija Sabaliūnas Brūzgienė. Has one daughter and one son
Education and training
1986-1991	MA in English Language and Literature, Department of Philology, Vilnius University, Lithuania
1989-1990	Exchange Program, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., United States of America
1993	Diplomats' Course, Institute for International Studies, Leeds University, United Kingdom
1998	Senior Executive Seminar, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
2000	The International Visitor Program, USIA, Washington D.C., United States of America
Professional career
From 1st  of September, 2023	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the State of Israel
2023	Director, Directorate for Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
2020-2022	Director, Department of Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
2015-2020	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Turkey and non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2016-2020) and to the Islamic Republic of Iran (2016-2020), Ankara.
2013-2015	Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius
2011-2012	Director, Energy Security Center under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vilnius
2010	Director, Economic Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
2007-2010	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America and non-resident Ambassador to the United Mexican States, Washington, D.C.
2002-2007	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Finland, Helsinki
1999-2002	Director, First Bilateral Relations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
1998-1999	Head of West European Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
1996-1998	Counselor/Minister-Counselor, Political Affairs Embassy of Lithuania to the United Kingdom, London
1995-1996	First Secretary, Embassy of Lithuania to Israel, Tel Aviv
1993-1995	Acting Director, Department of State and Dilpomatic Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
1991-1993	Various positions at the Department of State and Diplomatic Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
1991	Specialist, Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vilnius
Diplomatic rank
2006	Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Miscellaneous
Decorations	Grand Cross of the Order of the Finnish Lion, Finland Commander of the Order of Merit, Lithuania Officer of the Order of Merit, The Sovereign Military Order of Malta Officer of the Legion of Honor, France Medal for personal contribution to the development of Trans-Atlantic relations and to commemorate Lithuania’s invitation to join NATO Medal „For Distinction in Lithuania’s Diplomacy“
Languages	Lithuanian, English, Russian.