News

On 4 April, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius and first Deputy Chancellor of the Prime Minister, Remigijus Motuzas, received a delegation of participants of the March of the Living of Holocaust survivors. “The March of the Living held from Paneriai railway station to the Paneriai Memorial is our shared message to the future generations, confirming that the Holocaust tragedy will never be forgotten," L.Linkevičius said.

Minister stressed the importance of cooperation with the Lithuanian Jewish community and the Litvaks communities around the world and added to be convinced that only joint efforts can help us overcome the manifestations of anti-Semitism, old prejudices and myths about Jews and the State of Israel.

Willing to pay homage to the victims of the Holocaust, members of the Israel Litvaks’ community originating from Vilnius and Vilnius region (Beit Vilna) have held the March of the Living of Holocaust survivors in Lithuania for the fifth time. Lithuanian and Israeli officials also took part in the event.

L.Linkevičius stressed that constructive cooperation based on a good will proves that Lithuanian and Israeli nations can work together for a better future. “This kind of cooperation is the best Memorial for the victims of the Holocaust and a solid basis for the future,” the Minister said.

In his welcome speech, the first Deputy Chancellor of the Prime Minister Remigijus Motuzas acquainted Litvaks, visiting the Government, with the Governments’ Program of the Year of Commemoration of Vilnius Ghetto in Lithuania and abroad, drafted upon the resolution of Lithuanian Seimas.

The Vice-President of the Litvaks community from Vilnius and Vilnius region in Israel Mickey Kantor expressed her gratitude to the Government for its attention to the already traditional March of the Living in Lithuania that is very important for the historical memory of the Holocaust.

Faina Kukliansky, acting Vice-President of the Jewish community of Lithuania noticed that, while remembering the past, we also must bear in mind our future and create new ideas to enhance our cooperation.

Jews from Lithuania who now live in Israel and other countries will pay tribute to the victims of Vilnius ghetto that was razed to the ground by Nazis and their collaborators 70 years ago, on September 23, 1943. They will also visit Jewish historical, religious and cultural sites in Kaunas, Kupiškis and other places.