According to the President, the great tragedy of Lithuanian Jews has touched almost every Lithuanian city and town and has left a void. Although it cannot be filled, it is necessary to make sure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
“We must ensure that future generations remember and reflect on what has happened. There is no other way to guarantee that the horrific events of the past never happen again. The pledges we are making today should translate into concrete actions targeting the younger generation as well as wider society,” Gitanas Nausėda said.
When presenting Lithuania’s pledges on Holocaust remembrance and on combating antisemitism, the President emphasized the importance of public education, extensive academic research and preserving the heritage of Lithuanian Jews. The Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History, which is being expanded for this purpose, will help to better reveal the rich history of Lithuanian Jews.
Gitanas Nausėda urged not to tolerate antisemitism, Holocaust denial and attempts to distort historical reality and called for the development of an open dialogue based on historical facts. According to the President, tackling new forms of radicalism in the digital space will require international efforts. The first-ever EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life is one of the initiatives Lithuania would like to contribute to.
At the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, the Malmö International Forum was set to take place in October 2020, seventy-five years after the end of the Second World War. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum had to be postponed for a period of one year.
The Forum was attended by representatives from more than 30 countries as well as many international and non-governmental organizations, including President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of Latvia Egils Levits, Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis, and President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.
