Presidential visits to CERN

On 19 January, CERN welcomed Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania. The President was received at Point 5 of the LHC (CMS experiment), in Cessy (France), by the Representative of the French Republic, Joël Bourgeot, as well as CERN's Director-General, Mark Thomson, the Director for Accelerators and Technology, Oliver Brüning, the Director for Research and Computing, Gautier Hamel de Monchenault, the Director for Stakeholder Relations, Ursula Bassler, the Director for Finance and Human Resources, Jan-Paul Brouwer, the Director for Site Operations, Mar Capeáns, the Chief Information Officer, Enrica Porcari, and the Adviser for Relations with Associate Member States, Christoph Schäfer.

Following a general introduction to CERN's activities, Lithuania's President visited the CMS experimental cavern as well as the LHC tunnel. After the visit, the delegation travelled to CERN Science Gateway, where President Nausėda met members of the Lithuanian community working at CERN.

In the afternoon, a CERN-Lithuania Science and Innovation event took place, where CERN and several Lithuanian companies signed a Research and Development Agreement related to the Future Circular Collider Feasibility Study.

Later that day, CERN also welcomed Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Republic of Armenia. The President and his delegation were received at Point 1 of the LHC (ATLAS experiment) by CERN's Director-General, Mark Thomson, the Director for Research and Computing, Gautier Hamel de Monchenault, the Director for Stakeholder Relations, Ursula Bassler, the Adviser for Relations with Non-Member States, Salvatore Mele, and the Adviser for Relations with Associate Member States, Christoph Schäfer.

Following a general presentation of CERN's activities, Armenia's President visited the ATLAS control room and experimental cavern. He was also introduced to members of the Armenian community at CERN and met Armenian teachers participating in the Armenian Teacher Programme at CERN.