Andrius Kubilius: the pain of Holocaust is Lithuania’s pain too

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and the official delegation visited the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem, centre for research, commemoration, documentation and education of the Holocaust.

Following the tour round the exposition, Prime Minister Kubilius laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance with all the names of massacre sites and mass graves imprinted on the floor. Sadly, Lithuania’s Ponery (Paneriai) is listed there too.

"The pain of Holocaust is Lithuania’s pain too. The loss of Lithuanian Jews is a great tragedy for my people and other European nations. We will never forget the tragedy of the Jewish people nor its victims. We will never forget crimes. Nor will we forget the righteous who rescued innocent people. "– Prime Minister wrote in the guestbook.

The Prime Minister said that he greatly appreciated Yad Vashem’s efforts in preserving our shared history and human values. Andrius Kubilius informed the management of the museum about an international conference on xenophobia and anti-Semitism “Teaching Tolerance. Lessons from History” to be held in autumn 2011 in Vilnius within the framework of the programme marking the 70th Anniversary to the Holocaust; he also told about the concept for the development of Paneriai memorial.

In 1953, the Knesset passed a special resolution establishing the Yad Vashem Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority intended to achieve the following three objectives: to enshrine, research and educate. Yad Vashem is Holocaust Martyrs 'and Heroes' Remembrance Museum, also housing the Holocaust Research Centre, the School of International Studies of Holocaust and a huge data base relating to each victim. The Institute reviews documents submitted by Jewish survivors, and grants the title of the Righteous among the Nations, award a medal of honour and a letter of appreciation, and plant a tree in the Righteous avenue in their honour.