Press Release
At the beginning of December regional conference regarding restitution of Holocaust era assets will be held in Vilnius. The experiences of returning assets of European countries will be reviewed and well-known historians will present their research about what happened in Lithuanian during WWII.
The conference is dedicated to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Terezin declaration. In 2009 47 countries, Lithuania among them, has signed the document in Praha and announced the program of activities, directed to securing assistance, damage compensation and commemoration of Nazi victims’ memory. It is important to note, that countries stressed the importance of ensuring communal and individual property restitution.
“Noting the importance of restituting communal and individual immovable property that belonged to the victims of the Holocaust (Shoah) and other victims of Nazi persecution, the Participating States urge that every effort be made to rectify the consequences of wrongful property seizures, such as confiscations, forced sales and sales under duress of property, which were part of the persecution of these innocent people and groups, the vast majority of whom died heirless”, – it is said in Terezin declaration.
According to Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) community (LJC) President Faina Kukliansky, ten years ago Community welcomed Lithuanian decision to sign the aforementioned document. “Now we can state: the progress of all efforts is significant, but most often – partial”, – said F. Kukliansky.
LJC President emphasized, that the year 2020 is announced Lithuanian Jewish history and Vilna Gaon year and this is a perfect opportunity to mark the success and identify the good practices, as well as pay attention to questions, that needs solving.
At the same time F. Kukliansky regretted, that the event has not attracted attention of the highest Lithuanian officials and representatives of state institutions, although it could become a great platform to accustom with experiences of other countries and to meet with world-known Holocaust historians.
At the conference on December 2 in Vilnius prominent diplomats and scientists, among them – international lawyer Dirk Roland Haupt (Lund University), prof. Joachim Tauber (Hamburg university), dr. Christoph Dieckmann (Bern university), rabbi Andrew Baker (American Jewish Committee) will participate. Also, Jewish community leaders of Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Latvia as well as representatives of international Jewish organizations from USA and Israel, ambassadors residing in Lithuania will be present.
The conference is organized by the Good Will Foundation in Lithuania, which is founded for the purpose to administer Jewish communal property restitution funds.
The event is open to media, nevertheless the registration is required by the contact information indicated below. The event will begin at 10 o‘clock. The conference will take place at Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, Pylimo str. 4.
Contact person:
Indrė Rutkauskaitė
Phone: +37068413902
Email: info@gvf.lt