Lithuanian president receives prestigious CERES medal

VILNIUS - Jacques Diouf, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), who is currently on a visit in Lithuania, on Nov. 15 conferred on President Dalia Grybauskaite the prestigious CERES medal as an acknowledgement of her key role in promoting her country’s social, cultural and economic development and contribution to a people-centered society, President’s Press Service reports.  

The CERES medal is the highest award given by FAO annually to women leaders for enhancing women’s role in democracy, promoting social and economic wellbeing, as well as for their contribution to solving the problems of world food supply.

The director-general of FAO also mentioned the president’s work with the European Commission and the Council of Women World Leaders, where the Lithuanian leader actively cooperates with other heads of state and government to enhance women’s rights and leadership in the world.

At the initiative of Dalia Grybauskaite and President Tarja Halonen of Finland, the high-level conference “Women Enhancing Democracy: Best Practices” was held in Vilnius on June 30.

Dalia Grybauskaite and Jacques Diouf during their meeting also discussed Lithuania’s plans to renew the post of attache for agriculture in Rome, where the Food and Agriculture Organization is based. They exchanged their opinions about the ongoing FAO reform aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of FAO’s activities.