[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVE McCOTTER FROM THE LITHUANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE 
                     UNITED STATES, AUDRIUS BRUZGA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to place into the Record a 
letter from Ambassador Audrius Bruzga of Lithuania regarding House 
Concurrent Resolution 255.

         Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States 
           of America,
                               Washington, DC, September 29, 2008.
     Congressman Thaddeus McCotter,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman: I am aware that on September 25, 2008 the 
     United States House of Representatives passed the House 
     Concurrent Resolution 255: Expressing the sense of Congress 
     regarding the United States commitment to preservation of 
     religious and cultural sites and condemning instances where 
     sites are desecrated.
       I write to express my astonishment and utter surprise that 
     such a Resolution was submited for vote at the time when the 
     process of finding a solution to the issue of the former 
     Snipiskes Jewish cemetery is at its final stages and all the 
     interested parties are in agreement of the necessary steps 
     and actions.
       You may well be aware that on June 25 through July 5 
     geophysical investigation was carried out by a contractor 
     company from Israel Geotec on 14 chosen areas. Alongside with 
     the geophysical investigation, archeological investigation 
     was carried out by the Lithuanian Cultural Heritage 
     Department.
       On September 22nd, based on the results of the said 
     investigations the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs 
     Petras Vaitiekunas, Head of the Government working group for 
     the preservation of the former Jewish cemetery in Snipiskes, 
     presented recommendations to the Government of Lithuania on 
     further steps regarding the preservation of the former 
     Snipiskes cemetery. One of the recommendations of the working 
     group is for the competent Lithuanian institutions--Vilnius 
     City Municipality, Governor Administration of Vilnius County, 
     the Ministry of Culture--with the participation of the 
     representatives from the Jewish community and the owners of 
     the territory of former cemetery--to organize an open 
     international competition for the monumentalization of the 
     former Snipiskes Jewish cemetery site.
       Furthermore, the former Jewish cemetery in Snipiskes has 
     gained legal protection in compliance with the decision of 
     the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of 
     Culture. The Register of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of 
     Lithuania guaranties the permanent preservation of the former 
     cemetery site.
       During the whole process, the Lithuanian Government has 
     demonstrated commitment to resolving the controversy over 
     former Jewish cemetery in Snipiskes by involving Lithuanian 
     and international experts, historians, geophysical survey 
     experts, cartographers and archeologists, and International 
     Jewish communities, as well as allocating appropriate 
     resources for research and analyses. The Government of 
     Lithuania has worked closely and will continue to work with 
     the representatives of the Committee for the Preservation of 
     Jewish Cemeteries in Europe and with other Jewish 
     organizations, in search of a mutually acceptable solution.
       Mr. Congressman, Jewish culture, history, sacred sites and 
     traditions are part of Lithuania's national heritage. Sadly, 
     during the period of Nazi and Soviet occupations (1940-1991) 
     much of this has been lost or decimated. It takes time and 
     painstaking efforts to undo the damage. Allow me to assure 
     you that the Government is committed to the preservation of 
     all of the cultural heritage in Lithuania and is doing so in 
     a manner which is consistent with rule of law and justice. It 
     is disappointing when this is not appreciated by the 
     colleagues in the U.S.
       Lithuania and the United States are close allies. We share 
     the freedom agenda and we stand together in defence of our 
     shared values. I am certain that we will continue to cherish 
     our strong bonds of partnership.
       I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you the 
     assurances of my highest consideration.
           Yours sincerely,
                                                   Audrius Bruzga,
     Ambassador.

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