News

On 23 September in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys met with representatives of leading U.S. Jewish organisations to discuss the implementation of Lithuania’s action plan to combat antisemitism, xenophobia and incitement to hatred, and fostering Jewish life, adopted in January 2026.

The Minister underlined that Lithuania consistently implements a zero tolerance policy towards antisemitism and actively contributes to international efforts to combat all forms of hatred.

"Lithuania has a clear position: antisemitism has no place in our society. The action plan adopted is concrete proof of our commitment to ensuring the safety of the Jewish community, fostering historical memory and strengthening societal resilience against manifestations of hatred," said Budrys.

The Minister noted that Lithuania was among the first countries to endorse the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, and the measures included in the action plan cover strengthening the security of the Jewish community, Holocaust education, preservation of Jewish culture and heritage, and fostering Holocaust remembrance.

"The action plan includes not only ongoing but also new initiatives, ranging from hate speech prevention and capacity building for law enforcement authorities to broader public education. Only through consistent work can we ensure that hate ideologies have no place in a democratic society," said the Minister.

The meeting also focused on the issue of the Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace and the territory of the old Šnipiškės Jewish cemetery. Budrys emphasized that Lithuania seeks to find a respectful, sensitive and dialogue-based solution that would ensure the protection of the historic Jewish cemetery and preserve the memorial character of the site.

“We are committed to finding solutions that respect the historical memory and expectations of the Lithuanian Jewish community. Open dialogue with partners in Lithuania and abroad remains the most important condition for reaching a long-term agreement," said Budrys.

The Minister confirmed that Lithuania remains open to dialogue with U.S. Jewish organizations and is ready to further strengthen the implementation of the action plan together.

“We appreciate the close cooperation with the U.S. Jewish organisations. Together, we can fight antisemitism even more effectively, preserve historical memory and strengthen democratic values," said Budrys.