PLANS FOR SNIPISKES CEMETERY - A CHANCE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000945

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/OHI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: SCUL PREL LH
SUBJECT: PLANS FOR SNIPISKES CEMETERY - A CHANCE FOR
PROTECTED STATUS, BUT MUCH WORK TO BE DONE

REF: VILNIUS 909 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Political and Economic Section Chief Rebecca Dunham for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOL's working group on the Snipiskes
cemetery recently finished its work and submitted its
conclusions to the Prime Minister. At the group's
recommendation, the Prime Minister issued a decree calling
for the establishment of a committee of experts to research
the boundaries of the former cemetery. Unfortunately, he has
not placed anyone in charge of the process. So far at least,
no Ministry seems willing to take the lead. End summary.


2. (C) For several months, an intra-ministerial working group
met to find a way forward on the Snipiskes cemetery issue.
The process was marred by two factors. First was the desire
on the part of the Vilnius municipality (in the person of
Mayor Arturas Zuokas) to move forward quickly with
development of the site, without regard to religious or
cultural concerns. Second was the unwillingness of any
governmental organization to take the lead in finding a
solution.


3. (C) Post has made tremendous headway on the first problem
by convincing the Mayor of the need to work with the
international Jewish community to find a way forward that
will be acceptable to most, if not all, parties (reftel).
During a meeting with the American Jewish Committee's Rabbi
Andrew Baker on September 28, Zuokas even agreed to invite to
Vilnius two experts in the preservation of and development
around Jewish cemeteries. Post is working to facilitate that
visit, which we hope will take place in the coming weeks.


4. (C) The second problem was compounded by a change in
government this summer, and the resultant change in ministers
and vice ministers (one of whom chaired the working group).
The Foreign Ministry, out of frustration that no other
ministry would take the lead, recently sent a paper to the
Prime Minister outlining the work and conclusions of the
working group. Inter alia, the group requested that the
municipality halt any development of the site until the GOL
has determined a solution; researched similar situations in
other European cities; and requested the assistance of the
Israeli government in solving the problem. Its conclusions
suggest the following course of action:

-- First, form a committee of experts to determine the
precise borders of the former cemetery. This group would be
comprised of people from Lithuania's Cultural Heritage
Protection Department, Justice Ministry, History Institute,
National Museum, and other organizations. It would review a
wide range of archives and maps, and might request that the
Israeli government provide relevant experts to assist them;

-- Second, prepare a map of the cemetery's boundaries in
order to be able to represent the GOL in talks with the
international Jewish community;

-- Third, define a status for the former cemetery's grounds
under existing Lithuanian laws regarding sites of cultural
value; and

-- Fourth, register the site under this status, so that it
can benefit from the protections provided by Lithuanian law.


5. (C) Based on the MFA's report, on September 21 PM Kirkilas
directed the Environment Ministry, the Culture Ministry, and
the Vilnius county government (which reports to the central
government) to work with the municipality to form the group
of experts. So far, the response has not been encouraging.
According to the Prime Minister's Assistant Vilius
Kavaliauskas, the Ministry of Culture replied to the decree
on October 11, saying, essentially, that because the site
does not have any formal cultural status now, there is
nothing that the Ministry can do to assist. (Culture
Minister Jucas was unaware of the issue when the Ambassador
raised it during an October 3 courtesy call.) Kavaliauskas
told us October 13 that neither the Environment Ministry nor
the county government had replied yet.


6. (C) Jolanda Kriskovieciene, a Counselor in the MFA who has
responsibility for Jewish Affairs, told us on October 12 that
the PM had not designated any one person or Ministry as the
lead on this issue. She speculated that Kavaliauskas, who
has handled Jewish affairs in the PM's office for at least
two administrations, might be named to oversee the experts'
committee. Kavaliauskas later told us that no one had been
appointed, but that the PM might do so in the future. He
pleaded for our understanding, saying that the PM has not had
time to focus on this issue yet. He hoped to be able to

brief the PM fully soon.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) The news from the Prime Minister's office is
disappointing, but this story is far from over. For the time
being, no new construction can begin at the site, due to the
protection provided to the Sports Palace, which stands on it,
by the Cultural Heritage Protection Department. Ukio Bankas,
the current owner, is appealing that decision, but that
process will take time. The municipality still badly wants
to buy the property, but needs to find the money to do so.
This gives us time to continue to work the issue. The
mayor's office seems to have seen the light, and we will
continue working with them to bring experts in who can advise
them on a course of action that would likely be acceptable to
most interested groups, including much of the international
Jewish community. At the same time, it is now clear that we
will need to urge the Kirkilas government to address the
problem in a more organized way: by appointing someone with
authority to oversee the committee of experts, and convince
the relevant ministries to cooperate fully.
KELLY