SNIPISKES CEMETERY UPDATE: GPR STUDY RESULTS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000735 SIPDIS FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/OHI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: SCUL PREL LH SUBJECT: SNIPISKES CEMETERY UPDATE: GPR STUDY RESULTS AND REACTION REF: A. VILNIUS 501 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. 2007 VILNIUS 379 Classified By: DCM Damian Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Arieh Klein, Israeli geotechnical consultant, and Amit Ronen, representative of the Israeli firm Geotech, presented the results of their Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) study to the GOL's Geological Service on September 3. The study revealed dozens of "anomalies" in the ground that are consistent with the alignment and depth of graves. Because some of these anomalies were found in areas that were previously believed to be outside of the cemetery's boundaries, the study concluded that the cemetery extends farther south (toward the river) as well as farther to the southeast and to the southwest (toward the new buildings) than any available maps had indicated. The study concluded, therefore, that the King Mindaugas apartment complex was built in the cemetery and that the boundaries of the cemetery extend to Rinktines Street to the west and to Olimpieciu Street to the south. ¶2. (C) The Ministry of Culture issued a press release on the morning of September 3, prior to the presentation of the study results, that said the study is not confirmed by archeological work and therefore the boundaries of the cemetery remain unchanged. (Note: The MoC has hindered progress on this issue for well over a year, allegedly because of ties of the head of the Liberal and Center Union party, former mayor of Vilnius Arturas Zuokas, with the private developers of the Mindaugas apartment complex. Zuokas's party member, Jonas Jucas, is the Minister of Culture. We believe, but cannot confirm, that these allegations are accurate.) ¶3. (U) Most media outlets covered this story and followed the line from the MoC that the study is meaningless and added that the study was expensive (approximately 150,000 USD). PM Gediminas Kirkilas told reporters, however, "I think that the Government did not waste money without purpose. At least we have the study now. And it is very important." A few media stories referred to a press release by Arieh Klein, which explained the conclusions of the study. ¶4. (C) After presenting the study to the Geological Service, Klein and Ronen shared their findings with Post. The data regarding the southern portions of the cemetery is somewhat convincing, but is unlikely to be seen as conclusive by those who have supported the building of the apartment buildings in the past. Unfortunately, the study was unable to determine the northern boundaries of the cemetery because that area is covered by reinforced concrete slabs that the GPR cannot penetrate. Klein still hopes to convince Vladimir Romanov, main shareholder of UBIG, the owner of the vast majority of the cemetery land, to allow (and possibly pay for) Klein to remove some concrete slabs for a study of the northern part of the cemetery. ¶5. (C) Klein also told us that Renaldas Augustinivicius, Senior State Inspector of the MoC's Cultural Heritage Department, told Klein that his conclusions were too broad and beyond the scope of the study. He suggested that Klein edit his report and narrow his conclusions to what the GPR study found, as the contract stipulates, and not to interpret what that data might mean about the extent of the cemetery's boundaries. Augustinivicius told Klein that the Experts Group might be reconvened to evaluate the study's conclusions, as it had recommended in May 2007 (ref B). It could then make broader conclusions. Klein said he would agree to narrow his conclusions if he received a guarantee in writing that the Experts Group will reconvene. He has not yet received such a guarantee. According to the terms of the contract, the Geological Service has the right to prepare its own report based on Klein's study. CLOUD