UPDATE ON SNIPISKES CEMETERY

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000909 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/OHI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016 TAGS: SCUL PREL LH SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SNIPISKES CEMETERY REF: A. VILNIUS 584 ¶B. VILNIUS 789 ¶C. VILNIUS 850 ¶D. VILNIUS 879 Classified By: Pol/Econ Section Chief Rebecca Dunham for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d) Summary and Background -------------- ¶1. (C) Post continues to seek a solution to the controversy over possible new development of the old Jewish cemetery site in the Snipiskes area of Vilnius (ref A). In recent months, a new governing coalition and stepped-up efforts by the city's mayor to develop the site have led the Embassy to launch a new offensive to push the parties involved to find a solution acceptable to all sides. Since the Ambassador's arrival in August, we have used his courtesy calls on ministers and others and a series of high-level visitors as opportunities to educate the new government and to reinforce to old players the seriousness with which the USG views the situation. We have emphasized that any development of the former Snipiskes Cemetery site needs the input and agreement of the international Jewish community; any decisions short of this will only lead to further outcry. We believe that our efforts are beginning to find traction. End summary and background. Ambassador's Courtesy Calls -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador took the opportunity in no fewer than three meetings during his first three weeks to raise Snipiskes with those involved in the issue, including the Foreign Minister and Mayor of Vilnius Arturas Zuokas (ref B). He continues to raise the issue with key contacts. On October 3, he discussed the matter with Culture Minister Jucas, whose Ministry will participate in the commission that will review the issue from a cultural heritage perspective. In each case, he told his interlocutors that the USG will not seek to impose any particular solution; all parties involved need to talk to one another and come up with a solution that all can live with. He has emphasized the need for Lithuanian authorities to involve all segments of the Jewish community, including those outside of the country's borders, in the decision-making process. EUR DAS Pekala -------------- ¶3. (C) All of DAS Pekala's interlocutors expressed the government's will to reach a negotiated settlement on the cemetery during his September 8 meetings (ref C). All parties agreed that the Mayor has an important role in the future of the site, as the city of Vilnius still plans to purchase the land. Zuokas, for his part, seemed more willing to compromise on the issue than in the past. He agreed to host and work with international experts to conduct a scientific examination of the cemetery, a possibility echoed by presidential advisor Baliukonas the same day. Zuokas even said that he was willing to consider limiting any building on the site to the footprint of the sports arena which stands there now. CODEL Hastert -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Representative Eric Cantor used an opportunity during the September 17 - 19 visit of Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert, to remind Parliamentary Speaker Muntianas, Prime Minister Kirkilas, and Vilnius Mayor Zuokas (who attended the Ambassador's reception in the CODEL's honor) of the significant level of interest in the United States in finding a solution to the status of the Snipiskes Cemetery site (ref D). Muntianas told him the GOL continues to work on property rights issues. He added that a new working group is looking at the cemetery issue and hopes to determine the precise extent of the former cemetery, and then plan next steps. Lithuanian parliamentarians know that it's a problem, and were trying to solve it, he said. Zuokas indicated his willingness to work with Jewish groups to find a broadly supported way forward on Snipiskes. American Jewish Committee -------------- ¶5. (SBU) American Jewish Committee (AJC) Director for International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andy Baker and the DCM met with Vilnius Mayor Zuokas to discuss the issue September ¶28. Zuokas noted that a Lithuanian bank continues to own the site, and argued that international Jewish groups' interests would be better served if the municipality obtained the site. Zuokas provided more details of his vision for the cultural center that he would like to build on the Snipiskes site. He said that it would include a modern art museum, an artist's workshop, audiovisual space, and a permanent exhibit on the city's Litvak (Lithuanian Jewish) heritage, perhaps providing a "virtual tour" of Vilna (Jewish Vilnius). Zuokas said that he remains in contact with the Guggenheim and Hermitage Museums about plans to develop the site, but expressed concern that the controversy over the old cemetery could inhibit those museums from working with the city. ¶6. (SBU) Rabbi Baker encouraged Mayor Zuokas to work with representatives of international Jewry as the municipality contemplates the site's future. Zuokas took the point, and said that he would reach out to a few religious and technical experts from the international Jewish community to work with the municipality and Lithuanian Government on the issue. The mayor also said that, if the technical work demonstrated that the cemetery and the cultural center could not coexist, he would locate the cultural center elsewhere, using the Snipiskes site for a lower-impact project. Analysis and Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Many in the GOL seem to recognize the importance of taking the international community's feelings into account on this issue, and have demonstrated their seriousness by meeting with outside groups (such as FM Vaitiekunas's meetings with the AJC and B'nai Brith on the margins of UNGA, and the high-level meetings granted on short notice to Rabbi Baker on September 28-29). However, there appears to be no one who wants to take the lead on this issue. That said, we believe we are making headway with the most difficult player: the Mayor of Vilnius. He is still intent on developing the site, but now talks about doing so with consideration for its religious and cultural history, and in cooperation with outside experts. This week, he acknowledged to us for the first time that his dream of a gleaming new cultural center could be built somewhere else besides Snipiskes. His newfound flexibility could go a long way toward assuaging those -- especially in the Orthodox community -- who oppose any use of the site. ¶8. (C) The MFA's request to the PM that its Vice Minister no longer hold the chair of the intra-governmental working group on Snipiskes is, in part, a reflection of the "hot potato" nature of the subject. The Prime Minister recently tasked the Culture and Environment Ministries, along with the Vilnius regional government, to compile a report of the working group's conclusions on how to establish the cemetery's true boundaries and proposals for next steps. We have reason to believe that, with the Mayor's desire for development restrained by our latest offensive, the report and its proposals could head in the right direction. Our next tasks will be to ensure that they do, and that the Mayor does not later derail them. CLOUD